A benchmarking methodology for top-of-rail products: Carry distance and retentivity

Top-of-rail (TOR) products are used in railways to reduce wear and noise by providing an intermediate friction level and a positive creep curve. In addition to these general requirements, retentivity and carry distance are important for their effectiveness on the track. This study aims to determine these track performance parameters for three commercial TOR products. A contact simulator and portable tribometer were used to simulate track conditions. The results show that carry distance is the most limiting performance parameter of TOR products, especially for water-based products. TOR lubricants, on the other hand, caused a more significant drop in friction after application. A predictive model simulating product redistribution along the track was introduced for the best-performing product.