Keywords: portable tribometer, leaf contamination, top-of-rail lubricant, wheel–rail contact, carry distance, retentivity.

This paper presents a laboratory-based experimental setup combining a contact simulator with the BUT rail tribometer. The contact simulator enables the formation of representative third-body layers on real rail segments, while the tribometer allows detailed characterization of traction behaviour and measurement of creep curves. The capabilities of the proposed setup are demonstrated through three case studies addressing major friction regimes: low adhesion caused by leaf contamination, intermediate friction levels associated with top-of-rail (TOR) lubricants, and dry conditions. The first case study investigates the formation and frictional properties of leaf layers and residual leaf layers. The second evaluates the carry distance and retentivity of a commercial TOR lubricant under conditions representative of real railway operation. The third examines the evolution of frictional properties with increasing numbers of passes. The results show that the proposed setup enables systematic laboratory investigation of friction layers that are otherwise difficult to study in the field. By bridging the gap between simplified laboratory tests and costly, variable field experiments, the setup provides a practical tool for evaluating friction management strategies and supporting the development of adhesion control solutions in railway systems.

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