Hi Fellow;

The problem is the 1952 axle in the hole from (1 Journal) to (2 Journal) as per EMD Spec 1952 era. The gauge was made by a local shop who press off then restack the Spacers to (4'-8 1/2")(5'-0")(5'-3")(5'-6"). The EMD Maintenance Instruction (Wheel,Axle,Axle and Gear and Pinion-Export) M.I. 1519 Rev A show the non hole Axle.
BUT the reason in 1952 era was that hole allow the inspector to see in the crack quick.
Do you know of hole axle accept by FRA?
Pacific Southwest Railway Museum dba San Diego Railroad Museum
The is on EMD MRS-1 1809 & 1820 per 6 time 2 =12 lot of money

I do not see in 49CFR229 any specific prohibition for tublar axles. As far as I know, BART is the only place in this country still running tublar axles. They are at BART to reduce weight. WAMTA was using them, but they had a broken axle they blamed on the tublar axle and gave them up. The problem with the tublar axle is that the inside surface is very diffcult to inspect.

There are two way to make a tublar axle. One is as a drawn tube where a steel bar is put through diagonal rollers while it is hot and these rollers shear the center of the bar. Then it is pierced. The piercing is the problem in that it can result in material lapping over resulting a crevice that may act like a crack. The other method it to gun drill a solid axle. I have purchased drawn tubes from Timkin and drilled axles from Standard Steel.

If there is concern about the axles, I would suggest cleaning the bores and then look in one end while shining a strong light in the other end. This is actaually more effective than it sounds. A bore scope can also be used. You are looking for any signs of laps or cracks. The other thing that can be done is a UT inspection looking down the length of the axle. Due to the various changes in section in the axle this is diffcult, but if you try it from both ends and watch particularly for discontinuties at the outboard edge of the wheel seat, a gross defect can be fournd. This is assuming that the end of the axle does not have all kinds of letters and numbers stamped into it.

Can someone answer a basic question about these locos? I've heard two versions of how they were intended to handle multiple gauges. One is that the wheels could be unlocked from one position on the axles and moved to another spot and relocked for different gauge use. The other is that the entire wheel set was changed out to the needed gauge one in shipment or on arrival, with no movable wheels involved. What is the answer?

Hi;
That is correct about take 1-2-3 on end press side put in the spot then press the wheel after take, repeat on the opposite end.

Smile

Stan

The Axle for EMD MRS-1 is 8.521 foot length an make for Friction Bear. Not a standard
size.

The Question is this? what is the AAR wheel Axle specific S.A.E. or A.I.S.I. Number

The 12 Axle at a shop would cost $2000 per axle we the local in the shipyard can to for less. He turn the propeller shaft for the yacht.

Stan

Of concern is how would a crack be discovered if it occured when the new wheels were pressed on the axle (the most likely time for that to occur)?

The first question is, will the locomotives be running under California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) and/or FRA regulation and oversight. I don't remember any particular prohibitions elsewhere in 49 CFR, but I'd recheck the other sections closely. If the Museum is regulated, even in part by the CPUC and/or FRA, then they had better check with their local inspectors. It's one thing if they are running on their own insular non-regulated track, but another if they are running on the general system. As a general observation, I do not believe that there any hollow axles running on diesels or passenger cars on FRA regulated track in the USA. Those who use hollow axles are generally transit agencies, such as BART, and they are not federally regulated. I believe that VIA imported some European-built sleeping cars which came with hollow axles, but I'm not sure they ever made it into regular service, and tha's Canada, anywy.

The EMD MRS-1's had hollow axles, but the Alco/GE versions did not. It may have been a weight on axle thing, back then. Some years ago, the state organization I was working for, had a chance to get an EMD MRS-1 through Army surplus, but couldn't overcome the combination of hollow axles and non-roller bearings. They were problems we couldn't overcome, when it came to moving the locomotive off the base and over Class 1 carriers. We had no problems equipping Alco/GE MRS-1's with Timken roller bearings, but it was a job for an AAR approved wheel shop.

If weight on rail isn't a problem, why not just go with solid axles?


G.F.Payne
B'more, MD

The thru hollow axle is a good idea but has a drawback.
We need a Solid (12) axle with friction bear the 8.521 foot length.
The loco's are FRA route but not interchange.
We want to save money by a local level a the mach shop.
We need a AAR specific S.A.E. or A.I.S.I. Number.

Stan Paulsen

The M1 and M2 multiple unit cars that run on surburban MTA commuter properties were built with hollow axles. After a number of failures and a subsequent inspection, they were ALL changed out-quickly and at great expense.

It is axiomatic that railroaders and the FRA inspectors in particular, tend to be distrustful of things that are 'old,rare or obscure.' Draw your own conclusions....

The other point to keep in mind is that a hollow axle is a beam without any material about the neutral axis. Unless the moon and stars are in correct alignment...sounds like a prescription for trouble.

Change out the axles and be done with it.

DPK

Can the local shipyard assure a proper surface finish for the axle ???
I would ring up ORX.

DPK

Here is the Drawing that show the Axle and Wheel.
Want I need a the AAR Specific and Mircoinch in the Gear and Wheel area.

Stan Paulsen

I got from AAR a Specifiction M-101 part of 20 page.

Grade F
Carbon, percentage Min. 0.45 Max 0.59
Manganese,percentage Min. 0.60 Max 0.90
Phosphorus, percentage --- --- Max 0.045
Sulphur, percentage --- --- Max 0.050
Silicon, percentage Min 0.15 --- ----

Grades G and H
Carbon, percentage --- --- --- ---
Manganese,percentage Min. 0.60 Max 0.90
Phosphorus, percentage --- --- Max 0.050
Silicon, percentage Min 0.15 --- ----

The F or G and H Stamp on the end of Axle in 1/4 inch letter stamp.
The Class of size range D-E-F-G-K-L-M for freight,Amtrak,Loco.
F probable is the correct O.K.
Have the find a Axle w/o roller-bearing so the F letter in on the Axle.

The Class is easier to read the than specific the book from mill and foundy look at.

Smile

Stan Paulsen