AAR Circular Letter C-8761

September 8, 1997

CIRCULAR LETTER

(c-8761)

Subject: Prohibition of Cap Screw Seal Wear Rings

TO MEMBERS AND PRIVATE CAR OWNERS

File Number: AC-2058

Circular Number D.V. 2203 dated November 10, 1993 advised the industry of the results of a letter ballot item that dealt with the specifics of the program to require that car owners remove cap screw seal wear rings from cars released into interchange subsequent to heavy repairs in their back shops, contract shops, or tank car repair facilities. This rule change became effective on January 1, 1994 along with the provision in Rule 90 to prohibit cap screw seal wear rings on journal roller bearings of interchange freight cars effective January 1, 1999.

The technical services working committee at their May, 1997 meeting received status reports concerning progress made to date to promote the removal of the wear rings and directed that the industry be reminded that the prospects for a change to the prohibition date appears unlikely at this point. As such the Arbitration and Rules Committee has undertaken a task to identify measures to accelerate, if possible, the removal of the rings. It has been noted that industry efforts to focus energies on complying with the newly added provisions in Rule 36, that added as a cause for renewal the requirement that shops certified as a 9 or a 9A facility may remove seal wear rings, are starting to pay off.

Currently, studies are being conducted to establish a reasonably accurate population estimate of cars still equipped with the seal wear rings. Once these efforts are completed, the Arbitration and Rules Committee will be forwarding recommendations to the Technical Services Working Committee for consideration. It is anticipated that a decision could be made as early as this October to escalate the removal of the subject wear rings. As this issue progresses a circular letter will be published to announce any and all rule changes that may have been accepted.

Sincerely,

Patrick T. Ameen