twobogie

Twobogie is a term used in railway engineering to describe a rolling stock configuration in which a vehicle is supported by two bogies, one at each end. The two bogies carry the wheels and suspension and connect to the vehicle body. This layout is common in many conventional passenger cars and light freight wagons and is often contrasted with designs that have a different number of bogies or are articulated.

Each bogie comprises a frame carrying the wheelsets, axles, and braking gear, with suspension that cushions shocks from the track. In a typical two-bogie passenger coach, the body is mounted above the bogies through a set of pivots and dampers, allowing flexibility while maintaining alignment on uneven track.

Advantages of the two-bogie arrangement include improved stability and ride quality, predictable handling in curves, and efficient weight distribution over the track. It simplifies maintenance and compatibility with standard track gauges. Limitations include longer vehicle length, greater overall mass, and potentially higher maintenance costs compared with lighter or articulated designs.

Historically, the two-bogie layout has been widely used in 19th- and 20th-century railcars and is still common in many regional and commuter fleets. Modern designs may supplement or replace two bogies with three or more bogies, articulated groups, or bogie-free configurations to meet specific speed, load, and maintenance goals.

See also: Bogie; Rail vehicle; Passenger car; Wheel arrangement.