Roller Rigs

With increasing operating speeds and a requirement for greater capacity and reduced energy consumption, there is a need to better understand ever more complex aspects of wheel-rail contact behaviour and develop advanced train traction and braking systems. Such demands have led to a renaissance in full-scale railway roller rigs testing. This chapter first explores the history of roller rig testing, followed by a global review of state-of-the-art roller rig test facilities and an overview of their capabilities. In demonstrating the wider application of roller rigs, four diverse test facilities are presented in detail, providing the reader with an insight into how, even when advanced computer simulations are commonly available, these complex test machines remain of great benefit to railway engineers across the world.