Study of Railroad Shoe Beam Fires

After an increase in the number and severity of shoe beam fire incidents at the nation's largest commuter railroad, Interactive Elements was retained to review the history of such incidents at the railroad, compare it to similarly situated properties, and develop recommendations for reducing their frequency, severity, and impact on rail operations. The study included a thorough review of relevant maintenance and quality assurance practices; analyses of contact shoe and shoe beam materials; an examination of breaker application and performance; and an evaluation of the design and configuration of car borne traction power components. Existing sound practices of the railroad were identified and recommendations were made for improvements in design and maintenance of shoe beams, selection of shoe beam coatings, and incident response.   [771]

Agencies Involved: Long Island Rail Road

Areas of Expertise: Asset Management, Safety, Vehicles / Rolling Stock