AAR Circular Letter C-9388

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December 3, 2001

Circular Letter

(c-9388)

 

Subject: Inspection and Removal of Out-of-Gage Wheelsets

TO THE MEMBERS AND PRIVATE CAR OWNERS                                                                                             File Number: EW-5183

A member road has found several out-of-gage wheelsets over the last 18 months.  The railroad has conducted extensive investigations and, at this point, has narrowed the suspect wheelsets to CJ-36 2 wear wheels produced in its system wheel shop.  The railroad has recommended that all subject wheelsets in tank cars (approximately 5000 cars of various ownership were placed in the Early Warning system today) be inspected for proper back-to-back gage and that wheelsets from specific production dates be removed and returned.

This Early Warning Letter is assigned Severity Code 06 - AAR Defined.  (refer to instructions below)

Handling carriers and repair shops should proceed as follows:

Wheelsets under tank cars subject to this EW having rolling bearing locking plates from wheel shop "CN PU" and roller bearing mounting dates of 6/98, 2/99, 3/99 or 9/99:

•     Remove on sight

•     Update the AAR Early Warning System with Activity Code MH:  Car repaired, return to service.

•     Bill the car owner via normal AAR billing using Why Made Code 25 - Owner's request.  Car owners may request counter billing authority from Canadian   National Railway per Office Manual Rule 112 for wheelsets billed with Why Made Code 25 reported on the wheels and with Why Made Code 11 on the axle and roller bearings.

•     Isolate and clearly tap all removed wheelsets (car initial & number, position under car, date removed, railroad/shop & repair location).  Send wheelset to handling line's normal AAR approved wheel shop where it must be held pending disposition arrangements.

•     Email or FAX:  Donald Harris, Canadian National Railway (with car initial & number, position under car removed, date removed, railroad/shop & repair location).  Email: Donald.Harris@cn.ca or Fax: (514) 399-4941

All other wheelsets under tank cars subject to the EW:

•     Check all wheelsets for proper gage per AAR Field Manual Rule 41.A.1.r. Check back-to-back gage in one place at the 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock position. (53-3/16" Maximum, 52-15/16" Minimum)

•     If all wheelsets are within proper gage, update the AAR Early Warning System with Activity Code MR: Car inspected, return car to service.

Additional Notification & Handling Instructions for Any Out-of-Gage Wheelset Removed from Tank Cars subject to this EW:

• Remove any out-of-gage wheelset per Field Manual Rule 41.A.1.r. and update the AAR Early Warning System with Activity Code MH: Car repaired, return to service.

• Bill the car owner via normal AAR billing using Why Made Code 81.  Car owners may request counter billing authority from Canadian National Railway per Office Manual Rule 112 for wheelsets billed with Why Made Code 81 reported on the wheels and with Why Made Code 11 on the axle & roller bearings.

• Isolate and clearly tap all removed out-of-gage wheelsets with car initial and number, position under car, date removed, railroad/shop & repair location, roller bearing locking plate shop initials and date

• Immediately contact:  Donald Harris, Canadian National Railway; Telephone: (514) 399-6625, FAX (514) 399-4941, E-mail: Donald.Harris@cn.ca to arrange for disposition of subject wheel sets.

• Do not send out-of-gage wheelsets to wheel shop until disposition is received.

You prompt cooperation in inspecting and handling cars covered by this Early Warning is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Thomas Stahura