DRAWGEAR AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES FOR UNDERGROUND ROLLING STOCK.

Underground tramming in the gold mining industry is discussed in general terms, leading up to an evaluation of track conditions, coupling design and wheel profiles and suspensions on hoppers. Details are given of a series of tests conducted on a special section of track, during which conventional couplings and wheel assemblies were compared with new design units. The test equipment and recorders are described. The specially designed units proved to be more stable, required less drawbar pull, and hence fuel, and showed that longer rail and wheel life could be expected. An extensive discussion of the paper is given (pages 543-546), including the reply by the author of the paper.