'HOT BOXES' ON THE HUNGARIAN RAILROADS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001500240008-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2009
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: June 17, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001500240008-1
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form Is prohibited.
SEC1ET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
Hungary
SUBJECT "Hot Boxes" off. the Hungarian Railroads
PLACE ACQUIRED
This is UNEVALUATED
Information
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. The axles of railroad cars are always made of high-quality steel. To save
the axles from weaxing out, the load is transmitted to the journal through
a journal box lined with soft metal. Friction,. which produces heat, then
arises. between the revolving journal and the stationary journal box. The
case of the journal box serves at the same time as a lubricant which pourg
oil between the journal and the journal box, thereby eliminating the heat
produced by the fraction.
2. Hot boxes occur when the journal is 2ieated to a high temperature, as a result
of which the journal box melts or breaks, and, finally the lubricating lining
within the journal box burns. The reason for hot boxes is usually very difficult
to find. No serious damage is caused when a hot box is 3l6ticed in time by the
train personnel and the car in question is taken out of the train.
3. It is not unusual that the journal gets stuck; this can be remedied by lathing
and polishing. The diameter of the journal is then shortened by 1 - 2 mm.,
which, however, does not affect the usefulness of the axle. However, a burned-
out journal box must be relined with a tin alloy.
4+. Perhaps the most frequent reason for a hbt box is the ineffectiveness of.tihe
lubricant. Perhaps the reason for this condition is that water gets into the
lubricant, or the tin alloy lining of the journal box bermes cracked, or sand
or metal shavings,.'get into the 'journal box.. A hot box may be due to sabotage,
but as a rule it occurs due to inadequate maintenance.
5. According to long railroad experience, tin gives the best sliding properties
on the steel journal. Experience has also shown that the tin content in the
box lining alloy must be increased in proportion to the load which the
journal box carries.
25 YEAR
RE-REVIEW
STATE 1 x ARMY
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. 0YTICIJMS ONLY
xJMR
IX
(Note: Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By "#".)
I AEC ORR EvyIx
17 June 1953
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001500240008-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001500240008-1
SECRET/CONTROL U. S. OFFICIALS ONLY
6. The box alloy of railroad freight cars contains 14+ percent of tin
on all European railroads, with a deviation of 1-2 percent as between
the various countries. The box alloy used on locomotives, on the
other hand, contains 60-70 percent of tin. As is well known, tin
is not mined in Europe. For this reason the supply of tin for the
purpose of the railroads in war time presents a problem. Actually,,
the situation is not disastrous, because the old tin alloy can be
melted down. Consequently, new tin requirements represent only a
fraction of the total.
7. In an emergency the tin content is gradually reduced, as for example
from 14 to 13 to 12 percent. This procedure does not add perceptibly
to the number of hot box occurrences. However, it cannot be used on
-locomotives, where the alloy must contain an adequate percentage of
tin.
8. The Hungarian State Railroads have been. experimenting on a large
l
i
sca
e w
th Journal box metals which 6ontain no tin whatever. These
experiments have shown some promise f success.
The import requirements of the Hungarian State Railroads in tin, can
be estimated at 30 tons per year. In an emergency one third of this
quantity is sufficient. The box alloy also contains lead in addition
to tin.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001500240008-1