Gondola cars: technical specifications. Gondola cars, universal

The construction of freight cars is carried out in such a way that subsequently transported raw materials and products remain intact. In addition, such railway equipment should be assembled in such a way that it would be possible to carry out transportation as quickly as possible. There are several varieties of freight cars. Transportation can be carried out, for example, by hoppers or on platforms. All these models have different specifications. Gondola cars are universal, however, at the moment they are the most common variety on the railways, used everywhere.

Design features

The main distinguishing features of cars of this type are the lack of a roof and high sides. In this case, the transported goods are poured or stacked in the body from above - using special equipment. Today, a special type of gondola cars equipped with a removable roof is often used on Russian railways. The advantage of such models is the convenience of loading, combined with the ability to transport, including products sensitive to adverse weather conditions.

What can be used for

Gondola cars are designed for transportation, primarily bulk and piece cargo. It is allowed to transport in them also small-sized and packaged. So, for example, in gondola cars such bulk cargoes are often transported as:

• iron ore;
• crushed stone and gravel;
• waste rock (dumps);
• coal;
• logs and lumber;
• grain of rye, wheat, etc.

It is for the transportation of such goods and have models without a roof suitable technical specifications. Gondola cars are usually designed for a gauge of 1520 cm, and therefore can only be operated in Russia and in the countries of the former CIS.

Common models

To date, several types of universal gondola cars are used on Russian railways. The marking of each of them usually contains the number 12. It designates a gondola. Models can differ in different ways: maximum load capacity, volume, length, structural speed, service life.

Specifications

From what parameters the gondola differs, first of all, its performance depends. In the table below, you can see which particular model has technical specifications. Gondola cars, considered in it, are used on the railways of Russia most often.

The dimensions of the gondola car, as you see, can vary significantly. Depending on this, this or that model can be used for transportation of different volumes of cargo. The performance of gondola cars from this indicator, however, is practically independent. The main influence on the economic profitability of using one or another model has a completely different factor. The performance of a wagon is determined primarily by its capacity.

All such models are equipped with brakes not only pneumatic automatic, but also manual parking. Also, in most cases, gondola cars have an automatic coupler designed to hold together units without human intervention.

Body structure

The technical characteristics of this main part of the gondola car are subject to special requirements. The body frame of models of this kind is strengthened by a spinal (passing along the central axis) beam, consisting of two Z-shaped profiles welded together. A freight gondola car is usually made of metal. At the same time, its lining has trough-like stampings. The sides of the gondola car body are reinforced with a special frame consisting of upper and lower harnesses, corner, intermediate and pivot racks.

The frame of the car body rests on the chassis. Among other things, it contains elements of brake equipment and shock-traction devices. The car body usually has two end doors. They are necessary, first of all, to facilitate the work of loaders. The latter, in the presence of such an addition, have the opportunity to call directly into the gondola. In addition, self-propelled machinery is often loaded through the doors.

The bottom of gondola cars is usually equipped with hinges, brackets and hooks designed to secure cargo. These elements allow you to deliver goods to their destination intact.

Gondola loading and unloading hatches

Lumpy raw materials are poured into such cars, as already mentioned, from above. Unloading can be done in two ways. Sometimes it is performed on a special tipper with a receiving chamber. But most often, bulk cargo is poured nevertheless through the floor, which is the cover of several hatches. In this case, the car is preliminarily driven into special tracks with receivers on both sides. Next, the lid holders are knocked out for pouring cargo. Most often, gondola cars are equipped with fourteen bottom hatches. Sometimes their number is 16. For models equipped with a removable cover, there are also top hatches. They are used for loading bulk raw materials or products.

Gondola cars for special purposes and hoppers

It is universal models with unloading hatches that are considered the most convenient in operation, because they have excellent technical characteristics. Special purpose gondola cars, however, can also sometimes be used on railways. Unloading hatches in such models are absent, and their side walls are deaf. End doors in their bodies are also not available. Such gondola cars are mainly used for the transportation of special goods on closed routes.

Very often hoppers are also used to transport raw materials. So called models that look like a bunker. They can also be attributed to one of the varieties of gondola cars. The body of such models is a trapezoidal funnel with hatches located below. The advantages of gondola cars of this type, among other things, include the convenience of unloading.

Tippers (dump cars)

The main distinguishing feature of such models are the low side walls of the body. The dimensions of a gondola car of this type are not too large. But if necessary, the sides of dump cars easily recline. In this case, the platform of the car itself can be tilted to the side. As a result, the load is completely poured into the receiver. The inclination of the body in dumpcars is provided by special pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. Such gondola cars are used mainly in the coal and metallurgical industries. In the first case, overburden is transported on them, in the second - rock or ore. The capacity of dump cars can reach 145 tons or more.

Gondola cars universal: performance

Today, on the roads of Russia and the countries of the former CIS, only four- and eight-axle models of open wagons run mainly. The second variety is, of course, more productive. The carrying capacity of four-axle cars does not exceed 70-75 tons. The difference in this case can be plus / minus one ton. Some models of eight-axle wagons can be used to transport 130 tons of cargo. Sometimes Russian Railways and industrial enterprises operate and more modern expensive universal open wagons, designed for 200 tons.

Tara

This concept refers to the weight of an empty gondola car. This indicator mainly depends on the number of axles of the model, as well as on the volume of its body. Most often, rail cars use gondola cars weighing 21-22 tons. However, there are also heavier models, whose weight is 29-43 tons.

What plants are manufacturing

The first universal gondola cars appeared in Russia in 1861. They were bought abroad for the Grushevskaya railway and were intended for the transportation of coal. Subsequently, the engineers of Russian plants copied their design, and the same cars began to be produced directly in our country. Today, 11 large enterprises located in different regions of Russia are engaged in the manufacture of such structures.

So, for example:

1. The Ural Car Building Plant, established in the 30s of the last century, produces about 17 thousand such models a year.
2. The products of the Tikhvin enterprise of this specialization make up 12% of the entire Russian market.
3. The production capacities of the Tver Plant are designed to produce 1,000 wagons of various designs per year. This company, among other things, produces passenger cars.
4. Kaliningrad Car-Building Plant has been supplying products to the market for more than 150 years. Currently, he is the only developer and main supplier of dumpcars to the Russian market.

The main supplier of gondola cars to the Russian market at the moment is the Ural Plant (UVZ). In addition to domestic models, Russian Railways are often used and manufactured in Ukraine at the Kryukovsky enterprise.

GOST requirements

Of course, in the manufacture of gondola cars, like any other equipment, certain standards must be observed. So:

• for the manufacture of load-bearing structures, only low-alloy or anti-corrosion steels may be used;
• the braking system of a gondola car is necessarily equipped with composite pads;
• When assembling individual elements, welding methods appropriate to regulatory documents should be used.

For painting cars, according to the standards, only paintwork materials provided for by GOST should be used. Marking on the body and frame should be applied exclusively in places provided by the drawings.

Cost of equipment

When purchasing a gondola car, the company usually pays attention to its carrying capacity, ease of use, year of manufacture and service life. Basically, the cost of a particular model depends on these indicators. Wholesale prices for universal equipment start from about 650-700 thousand rubles.

Very often, enterprises do not purchase a railway freight car, but rent it. The cost of such a service is usually about 700 rubles per day.

Equipment

Together with the gondola car itself, the manufacturer, according to the standards, must supply the buyer:

• technical passport of form 4;
• instruction manual;
• technical description of the model.

Also, in accordance with the supply agreement, repair documentation and spare parts may be included with the open wagon. Transportation of the purchased equipment to the place of operation is carried out as cargo on its own axles.