Pilot (locomotive)

Schienenräumer ( Obstacle deflector ) are devices on rail vehicles, the push aside before the vehicle debris from the rails and from the track. They are used to (eg the rolling road ) to prevent derailments as well as damage to the vehicle and for example on low-lying axes of following vehicles.

The embodiments are different and usually adapted to the railway line and the expected interference from the environment. In its most basic form, these are two far forward on the traction unit mounted vertical rods that are just above the top of rail.

Often the cowcatcher is combined with a snowplow, corresponding shovel or plow-like devices are mounted on the locomotive fronts. One of the most famous Schienenräumer species is the typical far protruding cow catcher ( " cowcatcher", now known in the U.S. as a "pilot " ) American locomotives. For the first time such a cowcatcher on the U.S. steam locomotive " John Bull" was used. Was invented the cowcatcher of Charles Babbage.

Germany

In Germany Schienenräumer be prescribed for different rail vehicles in relevant regulations:

  • In the Railway Construction and Operation (EBO ) EBO § 28 Equipment and addresses " ( 1) power cars and other leading vehicles must have the following equipment: ... Obstacle deflector, ..."
  • § 41 Obstacle deflector and Schienenräumer " (1) Vehicles must have before the first set of wheels in the direction of travel or obstacle deflector rail guards that reduce a risk of derailment caused by obstacles. You must be located as close as possible in front of the wheels and have the least possible distance from the top of rail. "
  • § 13 Schienenräumer " ( 1) For rail cranes that move on the ground floor, the landing gear must be fitted with Schienenräumern, provided that the construction does not take over their job."

Historical quote

" [ ... ] 2 ) Each traveling to imaginary time steam carriage shall be fitted with an obstacle deflector, that is with a rack, which reaches down before the front wheels of the steam carriage on the rails, and any connections inside the same obstructing objects fortzuräumen determined is before the wheels reach the same. "

  • Schienenfahrzeugtechnik
  • Charles Babbage
John Bull (locomotive)
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