AAR Circular Letter C-9394

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December 6, 2001

Circular Letter

(c-9394)

 

Subject: Revision of Field Manual Rule 43

TO THE MEMBERS AND PRIVATE CAR OWNERS                                                                                             File Number: AC-2237

Please direct your attention to Rule 43 of the Field Manual, current page 315.  On the Correct Repair Chart, one notes that if an axle of raised wheel seat design is removed, both a black collar and a raised wheel seat axle can be applied.  The Arbitration and Rules Committee at their last meeting reviewed this matter and concluded that it is not the intent to allow the downgrading of a car from a raised wheel seat design axle to a black collar type.  As such, a clarification to the Correct Repair Chart was endorsed which will delete the "BC" in the What Car Be Applied column when a "RWS" is removed.  The Committee also editorially deleted existing Notes 1 and 2 to the Chart.

Be advised that best industry practice today is to not apply black collar axles and the WABL Committee is investigating whether or not it is time to prohibit the application of black collar axles in interchange service.  Any definitive plans that are drawn up to take this particular action will be similarly publicized via circular letter.

The Correct Repair Chart for the deletion of "BC" and the deletion of Notes 1 and 2 will be included in the 2002 Field Manual.  Any questions on these changes can be referred to the undersigned.

Sincerely,

Thomas Stahura