I have a few questions for guys in the shop/service tracks How RRs deal with flooded locomotive? What are "FRA defects"? Do US locos have muffler/silencer? For contrast, some of SRT's loco got its silencer removed in the process of derating (take 1 turbo off the twin turbo engines) Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Flooded, like as in Hurricane Katrina? Depends on how deep the water got. If only a couple inches, a thorough traction motor/replacement and truck cleaning and testing. If over a couple feet, the whole engine could be scrapped. The collateral damage flooding brings creates big problems. Sediment and other debris could settle into a loco's innards, electrical components fizzle and short out, prime movers could seize, the corrosion problems are enormous. I'm sure the real RR'ers could inform you better, but this is what I recall from a recent Trains Mag article. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
The Federal Railroad Administration, or FRA has specific requirements for maintaining locomotives and freight cars. A locomotive or freight car cannot be operated on certain railroads(depending on the type or class of the railroad) unless it meets these standards. A locomotive or freight car that does not meet any of these standards is said to have an FRA defect. Oil, water and fuel leaks would be considered an FRA defect. Flat spots on wheels would be another example. These defects require immediate attention. Another expamle of an FRA defect could be a burned out headlight or ditch light. This must be repaired at the nearest maintenance facility. This type of FRA defect does not require immediate attention, but must be fixed as soon as possible. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Doofus, thanks for more great info. FRA defects could also be pulled drawbars and broken knuckles, right? Sticking brakes, worn brake shoes, brake hoses, bent/broken grab irons could also be FRA defects, if I follow this right. It could really go to a lot of defects like overheated bearings, broken truck springs, cracks in a wheel, etc, ad nauseum... You seem to have an identity crisis going on.. Your handle says 'doofus', but your posts say 'really smart'. Maybe doofus means smart. If so, all those people in school referring to me like that were paying me a compliment... Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Broken knuckles or failed drawbars are caused by some in-train force that caused them to exceed their working strength limit. Worn shoes can only be considered defective if paper thin or non-existent. Bent or broken grab irons, yes. Many FRA "defects" are things that are discovered during an inspection that must be repaired before the car or locomotive can be used again. There are also AAR defects, which mainly concern design and function of cars and locomotives. I'll try an analogy....if a tire blows on your car, that would not be considered a "defect". But if your tire is worn or has some other detectable problem, then it could be considered as having a "defect". You drive for 100,000 miles and your car stops fine. A check of your brake system shows worn pads or shoes. If there is no other problem visible and your brakes don't grind when you step on them, they're not defective. If they grind, or an inspection reveals cracks or a brake line leak, then yes, that is defective. Hope this helps. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
Yeah, the list can go on and on.......... I've grabbed my share of live wires.............. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
I worked for SperrY Rail Service for a bit testing mainly the BNSF Tx division. In Galveston had rain so bad that we couldnt set on to test due to water level being 6 inches above the rail, this also meant that the trains couldnt enter or depart. Tom Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
some do, most don't. many blower engine have a stack straight out of the manifolds. some have silencers on the stacks, but they don't silence all that much. turbo engines don't need much silencing. the stack extension has a little bit of a muffler effect as well as being used as a spark arrestor.. some of the passenger service loco's have silencers that make them quieter than same engine equipped freight loco's Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
How extensive is the FRA mandated "90 day inspection" ? What does it entail? Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
The 92 day inspection consists of changing every body filter on a locomotive. Next is the oil and fuel filters....all need changed. A check of the brake system, change shoes if needed, adjust piston travel. Check oil/water levels. Check water treatment %. Check viscosity of oils. Check rack on govenor. Check lube oil on truck bearings. Add grease packs to traction motor gears. Check wicks on bearing lube system. Inspect traction motor wires. Check brushes on Generator commentators. Change Turbo filters. Check engine inspection reports and fix anything wrote up on locomotive by engineers. Test horn/bell. Send it out!
All new locomotives have been required to have them since late 1979... including blower equipped locomotives. Copyright 2008 Jerry DeBene
