[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 4 (Monday, January 8, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 842-843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-29]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Safety Advisory 2006-06

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

ACTION: Notice of Safety Advisory; center sill cracks on 89-foot flat 
cars used to haul containers of municipal solid waste.

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SUMMARY: FRA is issuing Safety Advisory 2006-06, in order to provide 
interested parties information related to the potential failure 
(cracking and breakage) of the center sills on 89-foot flat cars 
carrying containers in municipal solid waste (MSW) service.

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 Michael Masci, Trial Attorney, 1120 
Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20590, telephone: (202) 493-6037.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA was recently made aware of a series of 
failed center sills on MSW 89-foot flat cars. Among these failures were 
two cars from the USWX 20000 series. Car USWX 20242 experienced a 
center sill failure at North Bergen, New Jersey on May 18, 2006, and 
car USWX 20226 experienced a failure at Harlem River Yard in New York 
on June 8, 2006. The failed center sill on car USWX 20242 resulted in 
an undesired emergency brake application and narrowly avoided a 
derailment. The center sill on car USWX 20226 was found to have an 
Association of American Railroad (AAR) center sill patch applied in the 
breakage area when inspected after the incident.
    Both cars were manufactured by Trinity, Industries (Trinity) in 
2000 and are used to carry containers of MSW to several host landfill 
sites. These cars are operated predominately in the northeast quadrant 
of the United States rail network by CSX Transportation, Incorporated 
(CSX) and Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS). The cars are owned by USA 
Waste Services, Incorporated (USWS) and operate between USWS loading 
sites in New Jersey and New York and their landfill in Waverly, 
Virginia. In mid-June, two additional cars were brought to FRA's 
attention. These incidents involved car USWX 638446 (cracked center 
sill) near Petersburg, Virginia on June 11, 2006, and car JTSX 400175 
(cracked side sill) near Selkirk, New York on June 12, 2006.
    As a result of these four reported incidents, FRA invited the 
parties involved with these failures to attend an open discussion in 
Washington, DC, on June 16, 2006. Representatives from AAR, USWS, David 
J. Joseph Company, Trinity, CSX, NS, and FRA Regional MP&E Specialists 
attended this meeting. At this meeting, FRA expressed its concerns with 
regard to 89-foot flat cars being used in this MSW service. Topics 
addressed at this meeting included: Design and loading concerns, 
transportation and inspection of equipment, repairs, handling of 
defective cars, and safety action plans. Information developed from 
this meeting revealed that a potential overloading problem with cars in 
MSW service possibly was causing or contributing to sill cracking and 
breakage.
    Subsequent to this meeting, FRA sent a letter to USWS on June 29, 
2006, recommending that USWS implement a comprehensive car inspection 
program and to review the loading and unloading procedures used by its 
employees to identify and remedy the potential causes for this type of 
damage. FRA also recommended that CSX and NS conduct joint mechanical 
inspections and work with the AAR in developing appropriate engineering 
standards and loading rules to address similarly affected loaded waste 
cars. On July 10, 2006, USWS responded to FRA stating that a pro-active 
program was being undertaken by USWS for cars owned by them performing 
MSW service. Based on the positive industry response to the safety 
concerns raised by FRA, the agency continued to monitor the use of flat 
cars in MSW service and is aware of the following additional cars that 
have experienced cracked center sills:
    1. ECCX 97072 on June 22, 2006, in Waycross, Georgia.
    2. ECCX 97098 on June 22, 2006, in Waycross, Georgia.
    3. ECCX 97072 on June 22, 2006, in Waycross, Georgia.
    4. ECCX 97111 on June 22, 2006, in Waycross, Georgia.
    5. DTTX 64043 on September 14, 2006, in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
    6. ECXX 20046 on November 26, 2006, in Marshville, North Carolina.
    7. ECXX 20043 on December 1, 2006, in Sabot, Virginia.

[[Page 843]]

    Based on information provided by the AAR, it appears that the ECXX 
cars are owned and operated by ECDC Environmental located in Salt Lake 
City, Utah, and the DTTX car is owned by Trailer Train Company in 
Chicago, Illinois.
    At this time, FRA is not aware of any derailments attributed to the 
center sill failures on any of these cars. However, due to the severity 
and nature of the cracking and breaks in the center sills of these flat 
cars, and the high density traffic corridors in which the cars operate, 
FRA feels compelled to advise car owners and operating railroads of the 
potential for catastrophic failures and/or derailments involving these 
cars. FRA mechanical field inspectors will be conducting periodic 
nationwide inspections of this equipment to ascertain the magnitude of 
the car population and to gather further information regarding any 
failures. At this time, it appears that many of the above noted cars 
may have been overloaded or compacted, which may have contributed to 
center sill cracking and failure. Additional supplements to this Safety 
Advisory may follow as cause of the cracking and remedial measures are 
identified.

Recommended Action

    In recognition of the need to ensure safety, FRA recommends that 
railroads and car owners carefully inspect the center sills of all flat 
cars used to carry containers of MSW. FRA further recommends that any 
such car found with a crack or cracks of any size in the center sill 
area be immediately bad ordered and sent to an appropriate shop for 
repairs consistent with quality shop repair.
    Failure of car owners and railroads to voluntarily take action 
consistent with the above recommendation may result in FRA pursuing 
other corrective measures to enforce public safety under its rail 
safety authority. FRA may modify Safety Advisory 2006-06, 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 January 3, 2007.
Jo Strang,
Associate Administrator for Safety.
 [FR Doc. E7-29 Filed 1-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P