Comparison of Conventional and Crash Energy Management (CEM) Passenger Rail Equipment
Conventional Equipment
The first view shows the cab car coming in from the right at 30.1 mph and impacting the standing locomotive, which is on the left side of the video frame. The cab car initially crushes, and then the impact end starts to rise. The end of the cab car continues to rise as the cab car crushes, and the cab car overrides the locomotive. Eventually, the cab car overlaps the locomotive by approximately 20 feet. The camera pans as the locomotive-led train begins to move. Once the locomotive-led train is moving faster than the cab car led train, the end of the cab car slides off the locomotive and falls to the ground. There is very little structural damage to the locomotive during the impact.
The second view shows the cab car coming in from the right and impacting the standing locomotive, which is on the left side of the video frame.
The third view shows a fixed side view of the collision. This details the ramp formed by the underframe of the conventional cab car, as well as the movement of the trucks at the front end of the cab car, which rise off the tracks and pitch.
Crash Energy Management (CEM)
The fourth view shows a pre-test simulation of the train-to-train impact test of CEM equipment. The locomotive is on the left and the initially moving cab car with a CEM crush zone is on the right. The simulations shows that there is controlled structural crush, no loss of space for the passenger or the operator and the trains remain in line and on the tracks. In the sequence of events, the couplers touch and the cab car coupler pushes back, the deformable anti-climber engages the locomotive hood, and the primary energy absorbers crush as the cab operator's space is pushed back into the service closet, preserving the space for the operator.
The fifth view shows the cab car coming from the right and impacting the standing locomotive at a speed of 30.8 mph. The passenger train has crush zones on all the ends of all the cab and coach cars. The front end of the cab car the back end of the last coach car have cab car crush zones, which preserve the operator's compartment and absorb additional energy while controlling a collision with a locomotive. All the other ends of the cars have coach car crush zones. In the test there is controlled structural crush, no loss of space for the passengers or operator and the trains remain in line. Crush occurs at all the interfaces between the cars in the passenger car.
The sixth view is a fixed side view of the CEM passenger train. Some of the cars uncoupled after the crush zones crushed. The uncoupling did not affect the crashworthiness.
Comparison of Standard and Improved Interior Equipment
Commuter Seats
The seventh view shows a test on unconstrained forward facing occupants in conventional commuter seats. In this test there was loss of compartmentalization and a high risk of injury to the occupants.
The eighth view shows a pre-test simulation of improved seats. The forward facing occupants are unrestrained. In the simulation, the occupants are compartmentalized and there is a reduced risk of injury.
The ninth view shows the unstrained occupants in the improved commuter seats during the CEM train-to-train test. In this test the occupants are compartmentalized, and the risk of injury to the occupants is reduced.
Workstation Tables
The tenth view shows a sled test of unrestrained occupants at a conventional workstation table. In this test there is loss of compartmentalization and a high risk of abdominal injury.
The eleventh view shows the pre-test simulation of the improved workstation tables. In the simulation, the occupants are compartmentalized and there is a reduced risk of abdominal injury.
The twelfth view shows the unrestrained occupants at the improved workstation table during the CEM train-to-train test. In this test the occupants are compartmentalized and the abdominal injury risk is reduced. The melamine surface "pops" off the top of the table as anticipated, and a honeycomb table crushes to absorb the impact and control the forces seen in the dummy.
