MxV Rail (formerly TTCI) partnered with University of South Carolina (UofSC) to investigate fine migration in shoulder ballast cleaned (SBC) track. In 2021 and 2022, UofSC conducted laboratory “flume tests” that allowed UofSC to quantify fine migration in a variety of maintenance and fine-filled ballast conditions. Laboratory test results were compared with the results from an actual test track “Rainy Section” of the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST®) in Pueblo, CO,1 along with revenue service testing in the central United States. One of the possible benefits of SBC is fine migration or the “cleaning” of fines out of the center of the track. If this cleaning mechanism occurs, SBC can extend the ballast life before undercutting or track renewal is required. SBC may also reduce track geometry degradation in the long-term. As a companion to Technology Digest 2 on the performance of spot SB, this publication documents evidence of…
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