Freight car trucks with X-stays

Are those X-stays to keep the truck "square"?



A freight car truck in China with X-stays. In China about 50 % of the freight car trucks are fitted with X-stays.



http://www.sctco.com/images/framebrace% ... 0image.jpg

This was to help the truck "track", and reduce oscillations. I've seen lots of them recently, with the bracing removed. In fact, I haven't seen one intact, in some time now. Not sure where they are, but the flange with the hole in it, is quite visible, with the rods missing.

A carman once told me those and the ''shock'' type thing in the springs on some trucks are a joke.