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Why are the wheels of a train made of steel and not rubber?
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+ Transportation
+ Rubber
+ Chemistry
+ Metals
Posted by
Michael Lodman
Why are the wheels of a train made of steel and not rubber?
Trains are too heavy for any wheel except one made from solid metal, meaning steel, because steel is the cheapest metal that will work satisfactorily.
Plus steel wheels rolling on steel rails roll very smoothly indeed, with very low friction, meaning much better fuel economy.
It would be possible to make trains with wide wheels running on wide rails and use rubber tires on the steel wheels.
But this would be totally impractical because doing it would cost too much.Many more wheels with tires would be needed, and maintenance costs would go thru the roof.
Trains are too heavy for any wheel except one made from solid metal, meaning steel, because steel is the cheapest metal that will work satisfactorily.
Plus steel wheels rolling on steel rails roll very smoothly indeed, with very low friction, meaning much better fuel economy.
It would be possible to make trains with wide wheels running on wide rails and use rubber tires on the steel wheels.
But this would be totally impractical because doing it would cost too much.Many more wheels with tires would be needed, and maintenance costs would go thru the roof.
Trains are too heavy for any wheel except one made from solid metal, meaning steel, because steel is the cheapest metal that will work satisfactorily.
Plus steel wheels rolling on steel rails roll very smoothly indeed, with very low friction, meaning much better fuel economy.
It would be possible to make trains with wide wheels running on wide rails and use rubber tires on the steel wheels.
But this would be totally impractical because doing it would cost too much.Many more wheels with tires would be needed, and maintenance costs would go thru the roof.
Trains are too heavy for any wheel except one made from solid metal, meaning steel, because steel is the cheapest metal that will work satisfactorily.
Plus steel wheels rolling on steel rails roll very smoothly indeed, with very low friction, meaning much better fuel economy.
It would be possible to make trains with wide wheels running on wide rails and use rubber tires on the steel wheels.
But this would be totally impractical because doing it would cost too much.Many more wheels with tires would be needed, and maintenance costs would go thru the roof.
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Rubber on steel is not efficient. Steel on steel is the most efficient form of land traction there is.
The only railway I know of where rubber wheels are used is the Paris Metro, but this also uses steel wheels. The reasoning behind this escapes me.
Rubber on steel is not efficient. Steel on steel is the most efficient form of land traction there is.
The only railway I know of where rubber wheels are used is the Paris Metro, but this also uses steel wheels. The reasoning behind this escapes me.
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