Trains, also known as railway trains, are a mode of transportation that operates on railway tracks. They are among the most popular means of travel in the world today.
A train typically consists of a locomotive and specialized cars that move along iron tracks.
A railway track usually comprises two main rails placed parallel to each other. Between these two rails are a series of cross ties laid perpendicular to them. These cross ties, known as sleepers, are typically rectangular and made from wood or concrete.
The train wheels are made of metal, without tires, and move along these tracks.
The quality of train wheels plays a crucial role in ensuring safety throughout the operation of the train. Train wheels must meet strict standards regarding durability, rail adhesion, hardness, and safety. The manufacturing process for train wheels involves 14 main steps, including melting steel, cutting billets, heating, forging, rolling, hot stamping, machining, hardening, cold printing, inspection, axel stamping, axle machining, attaching wheels to axles, and painting.
Similar to the wheels of other types of vehicles, train wheels also require regular maintenance and must be replaced if a “flat wheel” incident occurs. A “flat wheel” may happen after an emergency brake application, causing the wheel to slide on the track and develop a flat spot, making it no longer round. Continuing to run on a flat wheel causes vibrations, necessitating replacement.
Due to the large size of trains and their wheels, replacing a wheel is not an easy task. Below is a detailed video of the process of changing train wheels; we invite you to watch.
