Pennsy developed the ADAPTERPlus, a uniquely designed metal bearing adapter and polymer pad, to facilitate superior railcar curving. The ductile iron bearing adapter with an interlocked polymer pad will provide years of dependable service. It has proven itself over hundreds of thousands of revenue miles. The pad permits the wheelset to achieve a radial position through curves and provides light car vertical damping. This superior curving performance reduces wheel flange and track wear. Metal-on-metal contact is eliminated, protecting the roller bearing adapter and side frame casting from wear. ADAPTERPlus has proven itself over the last 10 years on more than 10,000 cars with a million miles of experience.

Economic Benefits of M-976 Spec
Reprinted from Technology Digest — April 1998

• 50% increase in life of rail in curves higher than 2 degrees
• 25% increase in wheel-set life
• 6% - 8% decrease in fuel consumption
• 35% increase in truck rebuild interval
• Attributable in large part to AdapterPlus (passive steering)

Key Performance Facts

• M-976 Approved on HD Split Wedge and ASF Motion Control Trucks
• No Special Side Frame Required
• Superior Curving Performance with Passive Steering
• Available in 6-1/2 x 9 and 6-1/2 x 12
• 1,000,000 Service Miles
• Over 10 Years of Field Service and over 10,000 Carsets
• Eliminates Side Frame Pedestal Roof Rework and Thrust Lug Wear
• Replaces Pedestal Roof Wear Plates
• Bearing Adapter Wear Eliminated
• Eliminates Metal to Metal Contact
• Wheel Life Extended with Reduced Lateral Force in Curves.
• Easy Retrofit to Existing HD Split Wedge or SSRM Trucks
• Roller Bearing Life is Increased with Reduced Lateral Forces and Vertical Impacts

Field Service and Test Experience
Over 10,000 carsets have been applied since 1993. Some of the oldest cars have nearly 1,000,000 miles with the original ADAPTERPlus.

Experience Our Experience
AAR INTERIM REPORT*
May 1993
5.0 Conclusions

"The curving performance of car 162 was found to be superior to all of the other 100-ton capacity cars operated in the HAL train. While it is possible the curving behavior of car 162 is intrinsically superior to the other 100-ton capacity cars tested, it is more likely that the improved curving performance is a result of the special adapter pads."
* A complete copy of this report is available upon request.

Costly Wheel Flange Wear and Track Replacement
Forty-four percent of car maintenance costs are a result of wheel replacements from shelling, spalling, thin flange and tread wear. AdapterPlus reduces wheel flange force by 63% in a six degree curve and helps eliminate expensive wheel wear and replacement. Improved truck curving performance reduces truck rollover and wear.

The polymer pad legs extend down into the bearing adapter thrust lug area. When a truck enters a curve, the wheelset can take a radial position to the curve through the compression of the thrust lugs along with some sheering of the horizontal portion of the pad extending across the top of the adapter.