[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 67 (Friday, April 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 18351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8435]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Petition for Waiver of Compliance

    In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR), notice is hereby given that the Federal Railroad Administration 
(FRA) received a request for a waiver of compliance from certain 
requirements of its safety regulations. The individual petition is 
described below including, the party seeking relief, the regulatory 
provisions involved, the nature of the relief being requested, and the 
petitioner's arguments in favor of relief.

Wabtec Railway Electronics

[Docket Number FRA-2001-9270]

    Wabtec Railway Electronics (Wabtec) seeks a permanent waiver of 
compliance from certain provisions of the Railroad Power Brake and 
Drawbars regulations, 49 CFR 232, regarding two-way end-of-train 
devices. Specifically, section 232.23(f)(2) requires:

    The rear unit batteries shall be sufficiently charged at the 
initial terminal or other points where the device is installed and 
throughout the train's trip to ensure that the end-of-train-device 
will remain operative until the train reaches its destination.

    Wabtec has recently developed an air generator for its TrainLink II 
End-of-Train units and plans to market the product under the trade name 
of TrainLink II-ATX. Wabtec states that this new product eliminates the 
need for separate battery packs by using brake pipe pressure to drive 
an air turbine and associated electrical generator. The generator 
provides sufficient electrical power for the EOT to perform all EOT 
functions and to charge a small backup battery with brake pipe pressure 
as low as 55 psi. Below 55 psi, the backup battery provides power for 
at least 5 hours from a fully charged condition. Air flow to the 
generator is filtered for particulates and water to prevent clogging of 
the turbine nozzle. At 90 psi, the air flow is about 1.3 SCFM and 
decreases to 1.0 SCFM at 55 psi. Wabtec tested the product on a 150-car 
air brake test rack at their facility in Germantown, Maryland, and 
provided the following summarized results:
    (1) With the brakes released and brake pipe pressure at 90 psi, air 
flow from the generator causes a 0.2-psi pressure drop at the rear of 
the train. This incremental 0.2-psi drop is the same regardless of the 
amount of gradient caused by other leaks. For example, a 15-psi 
gradient was simulated by introducing a leak at car 145. When the air 
motor is cut-in, the pressure at car 150 drops by an additional 0.2 
psi.
    (2) Although Wabtec believes a sudden blockage of the air nozzle is 
unlikely, tests were performed to ensure that a sudden drop in air flow 
to the turbine would not cause the brakes to release. With the air 
generator cut-in, no additional simulated leaks, and brakes released at 
90 psi, a minimum application was initiated. Pressure was monitored 
every 20 cars along the rack. Thirty seconds after the minimum 
application was initiated, the air motor was cut-out. Brakes did not 
release.
    (3) The test in item 2 was repeated with delay times of 60 and 90 
seconds after the minimum brake application was initiated. The brakes 
did not release in any case.
    Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings 
by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate 
scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since 
the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party 
desires an opportunity for oral comment, they should notify FRA in 
writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for 
their request.
    All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the 
appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver Petition Docket Number FRA-
2001-9270) and must be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Clerk, DOT 
Central Docket Management Facility, Room PL-401, 3 Washington, DC 
20590-0001. Communications received within 35 days of the date of this 
notice will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments 
received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. All 
written communications concerning these proceedings are available for 
examination during regular business hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) at DOT 
Central Docket Management Facility, Room PL-401 (Plaza Level), 400 
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC. All documents in the public docket 
are also available for inspection and copying on the Internet at the 
docket facility's web site at http://dms.dot.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC on April 2, 2001.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.
[FR Doc. 01-8435 Filed 4-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P