Friction management best practices for Australian heavy haul lines

Friction management using wayside gauge face and top of rail systems is widely used in heavy haul railway industry. Gauge face lubrication practice in the rail/wheel contact area on hi-rail gauge corner is not effective when there is little to no grease in the gauge corner area. Lubrication is effective when the grease is able to withstand the pressure and temperature and carried properly on the gauge corner contact area. There is myth that long bars are not suitable for effective wayside lubrication. Field trial conducted in this research has demonstrated that long bars are effective compared to short bars. This paper presents outcome of extensive field testing of lubrication equipments and lubricants and the implementation of friction management on the Central Queensland coal lines with an aim to develop best practices for Rail Curve Lubrication for Heavy Haul Lines in Australia.