[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11698-11700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2164]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Safety Advisory 2006-01

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of safety advisory.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2006-01, in order to provide 
the industry additional information on the potential catastrophic 
failure of certain railroad freight car side frame castings 
manufactured by National Castings of Mexico's (NCM) Sahagun, Mexico 
facility and Buckeye Steel Castings' (Buckeye) Columbus, Ohio facility. 
The purpose of this safety advisory is to recommend that the rail 
industry carefully inspect these specific side frames when equipped 
freight cars are in shops or on repair tracks.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Newman, Staff Director, Motive 
Power and Equipment Division (RRS-14), FRA Office of Safety Assurance 
and Compliance, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20590, 
telephone: (202) 493-6241 or Thomas Herrmann, Staff Attorney, FRA 
Office of Chief Counsel, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20590, telephone: (202) 493-6036.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The standard three (3) piece railroad 
freight car truck (comprised of a bolster and two side frames) is a 
critical safety component which transmits the load of the freight car 
and its lading to the rail and track structure. Any crack or failure 
detected in critical load bearing areas of these components can result 
in a serious derailment. There have been six (6) reported in-service 
failures of side frames manufactured by either NCM or Buckeye. Three of 
these in-service failures have resulted in a derailment. These include: 
Car DTTX 723603 on December 8, 2004, on BNSF Train QOIGCHI104 near 
Ottawa, Kansas; Car DTTX 724557 on December 14, 2004, on CSXT Train 
Q112-13 near Fostoria, Ohio; and Car UP 28414 on September 10, 2005, on 
UP Train CCOTSH05 near Hanna, Wyoming.

[[Page 11699]]

    Preliminary information indicates that there are three pattern 
types produced by these manufacturers most susceptible to failure. Most 
of the side frames that have failed to date had received some type of 
welded repair during the manufacturing process. In addition, 
preliminary analysis has in some cases indicated porosity and possible 
hardness problems with the involved castings. The following table 
identifies the three pattern numbers of side frames manufactured by NCM 
and Buckeye that may have the potential to fail while in-service.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Manufacturer                   Type               Service         AAR designation     Pattern number
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buckeye.........................  Barber S-2-D......  263/286K GRL......  F-9S-11FN-UA......  F-10103-B85
NCM.............................  Barber S-2-HD.....  263/286K GRL......  F9S-06BN-UA.......  52120
NCM.............................  Barber S-2-E......  263/286K GRL......  F9S-14FN-UA.......  53180
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FRA has previously issued Safety Advisory 2003-03 and Emergency 
Order No. 23. See 68 FR 65982 (November 24, 2003) and 69 FR 23850 
(April 30, 2004). Both of these documents address the potential safety 
problems related to certain truck bolsters manufactured at the NCM, 
Sahagun, Mexico facility.
    Recommended Action: In recognition of the need to assure safety, 
FRA recommends that railroads carefully inspect the side frames 
identified in this advisory when any freight car equipped with the 
involved side frames is on a shop or repair track. Railroad freight 
cars equipped with side frames in these pattern numbers should receive 
a careful inspection of the side frames at the inner corner radius 
(spring nest and outboard sides) of the pedestal jaw opening (field or 
gage side) at the transition from the pedestal roof. There are eight 
(8) locations per side frame that should receive close visual 
inspection. (See Figure 1). Any evidence of cracking and/or missing 
material in the corner radius areas is cause for replacement.
    FRA will continue to monitor the rail industry's voluntary action 
and may consider pursuing other measures to ensure public safety. FRA 
may modify Safety Advisory 2006-01, 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 March 2, 2006.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program 
Development.

[[Page 11700]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN08MR06.032

[FR Doc. 06-2164 Filed 3-7-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P