[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20632-20633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7943]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice of Safety Advisory 2005-02

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of safety advisory.

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SUMMARY: The FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2005-02, which provides 
information on the potential catastrophic failure of locomotive main 
reservoir tanks manufactured by R&R Metal Fabricators, Incorporated, 
and installed on General Electric Transportation System (GETS) 
locomotives. The GETS has informed FRA that a total of 5,826 suspect 
main reservoir tanks were manufactured between 1988 and 1995. To date, 
four of these main reservoir tanks have failed catastrophically while 
in service, and additional tanks have been removed for leaking through 
the welded seams.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Scerbo, Railroad Safety 
Specialist, Motive Power and Equipment Division (RRS-14), FRA Office of 
Safety Assurance and Compliance, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20590, telephone: (202) 493-6249 or Darrell Tardiff, Staff Attorney, 
FRA Office of Chief Counsel, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20590, telephone: (202) 493-6037.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In January of 2005, FRA became aware of 
concerns being raised by GETS regarding locomotives with main 
reservoirs manufactured by R&R Metal Fabricators, Incorporated (R&R). 
The involved main reservoirs were manufactured between 1988 and 1995. 
R&R provided 5,826 main reservoirs that were manufactured during this 
period to GETS. At the time of GETS' notification, four of the suspect 
reservoirs had ruptured while in service, and the ruptures resulted in 
rapid splitting and deformation of the tank along the longitudinal weld 
seam. None of the four failed reservoirs has resulted in any injuries. 
The GETS has informed FRA that a hazard risk assessment process was 
utilized and it was determined that corrective action is required as 
soon as practical (i.e. within 120 days).
    On January 18, 2005, GETS provided FRA a list of approximately 
twenty-seven hundred locomotives (2,700) that have likely been equipped 
with the suspect main reservoirs. Additional main reservoirs may have 
been mounted onto GETS locomotives through maintenance and repair. No 
other manufacturer's locomotives have been

[[Page 20633]]

equipped with the suspect main reservoir, and any attempt to do so 
would require major modifications to the mounting system. All suspect 
main reservoirs can be identified by a name plate attached to the skin 
of the tank.
    The GETS has informed FRA that it has contacted the affected 
railroads and has provided them each a list of locomotive road numbers 
and a gauge to determine if the reservoir is geometrically offset (out 
of round) and seams misaligned, which may result in high bending 
stresses that can lead to weld failure. The GETS also published a Field 
Maintenance Instruction number 24-15309 to assist the railroads in 
performing the inspections, and provided replacement reservoirs for 
those failing to pass the gauge inspection. Locomotives that have had 
the main reservoir tanks inspected will be identified as follows: a 
blue dot next to the reservoir tank badge plate indicates the tank has 
passed the test, a red X indicates that the tank has failed and must be 
replaced. The Association of American Railroads is aware of this safety 
issue and, in conjunction with its member railroads, is planning to 
issue an industry-wide ``Early Warning'' letter in the near future.
    Recommended Action: In recognition of the need to assure safety, 
FRA recommends that railroads operating and owning GETS locomotives 
inspect the main reservoir tanks of such locomotives in service and any 
main reservoirs in inventory to determine if they were manufactured by 
R&R Metal Fabricators, Incorporated, between 1988 and 1995. The FRA 
further recommends that the railroads adhere to GETS' Field Maintenance 
Instruction number 24-15309 when conducting its inspection of any 
identified main reservoir tank. If a railroad does not have GETS' field 
maintenance instruction or the required gauging device, it should 
contact Mr. Len Varan, GETS Product Manager, at (814) 875-2769.
    The FRA may modify this Safety Advisory 2005-02, issue additional 
safety advisories, or take other appropriate action necessary to ensure 
the highest level of safety on the nation's railroads.

    Issued in Washington, DC on April 15, 2005.
Daniel C. Smith,
Associate Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. 05-7943 Filed 4-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P