grinding wheels on prototype

[trainforfun]

Hi
anybody knows how much grinding ( mm. or inches ? ) can be done on a railroad wheels .
Is there a chart somewhere on the net available ?
Thanks 

[seusscaboose]

PM

[Rich_S]

Hi
anybody knows how much grinding ( mm. or inches ? ) can be done on a railroad wheels .
Is there a chart somewhere on the net available ?
Thanks

I don't know if a chart exists on the internet? I can tell you there is a minimum wheel size before the wheel is considered scrap on locomotives and there is also a minimum flange thickness. Machinist are responsible for measuring the wheels where I work and all wheel measurements are taken in sixteenth of an inch. The machinist then give me the rim thickness number (example 1- 4/16") and I use a chart to find the wheel size for testing the speedometer.  I believe the witness groove diameter is 36" with the wheel sizes falling in the 38" to 40" size. When wheels are trued in the wheel true machine, both the wheel tread and flange are trued for both wheels on the axle. There are also measurements that specify the amount of mismatch allowed between wheels in the same truck.

   

[badlandnp]

Whheel and flange inspections occupy a lot of time at loco service tracks. There is a FRA gauge used if a wheel is in question, but an easy eyeball cue is how close to the machined groove on the face of the wheel the 'tire' is. I forget the spec. I tried a link to the fra set, but it instantly wanted to download the entire code! Nah!

Here's a link to a private manufacturer of FRA gauges; http://www.railroadgage.com/

Mismatches, high flanges or excess wear are always a hit and require a wheel set change out on a car. It may be grinding if a machine is available to do it on car, or the wheelset is changed out. Locomotives usually end up on a wheel truing machine that does not require removal of the wheel. A fascinating lathe in a pit that is able to do this job. Cars usually just get a set swapped out and the B.O. set shipped off for truing.

[nkalanaga]

From the 1977 AAR interchange rules for freight cars, which should be close to locomotive standards:

Flanges must be greater than 15/16 inch thick, and less than 1 1/2 inches above the centerline of the tread.  The flange doesn't grow, but the tread wears, and if the center is worn enough, the flange is too deep relative to the railhead.

Rims: Greater than 7/8 inch on 28, 36, and 38 inch wheels, greater than 3/4 inch on "all other" wheels.  That would obviously be the standard 33 inch, but I don't know if it includes 40 inch, as they weren't usually used on freight or passenger cars in interchange service.

Then there are all kinds of other defects and damage that can get the wheel condemned.

[trainforfun]

Thanks all for taking the time to answer me .