Uncle Warren, in a burst of holiday spirit, wants everyone to prosper in 2012. Start out the year with some OT. We can only hope his favorite nephew, Buckethead, is reaping his own rewards today. Meanwhile, that well known slacker, FMB, is getting money for nothing, I'm guessing.
However that one was closely followed by a failure. Yep! A wheel defect that set off a WILD alarm inbound... Couldn't be saved after three full cuts. The shell/flat was too deep, and too long, on a very close ta 'scrap' wheel.
The damn thing was dangerously close to "BNSF Wheel Replacement Standards" yet these idiots are running these things all over the system! GE Dash-9 of course. Not sure where they buy their wheels... Maybe Russia. But they wear out very fast, with major defects... Possibly caused by poor casting techniques. Bubbles in the pouring lead to surface defects like shelling, peeling, or flats for no apparent reason.
Be warned fellow BNSFers, check your unit's wheels before ya take 'em! Thin wheels...suspicious. Be careful.
GE, and BNSF are multi-billion dollar corporations... There's no discernible reason for them to endanger crews, and communities where we run, by using substandard equipment. Always check your units over, and look at the cab cards, 203 daily, and the BLUE card.
Take nothing for granted. It's a new year. Safety has its own rewards!
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Hmm. That address doesnt look right. It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.
Uke advises Phreddie that as far as loco wheels are concerned a flange thickness of 15/16" is a "GO" wheel. But one 16th. less is a NO-GO at 7/8"! Admittedly that IS very close...
Freight cars DO have similar standards, however Uke suggests you talk to a 'friendly' car knocker type out in the yards, doing his/her job. Ask about wheel standards according to AAR. They, not FRA set the standards for ALL freight cars on our rails.
Had a gauge for freight cars in the Uke tool box years ago, but passed it along to our resident cab carpenter, whose job was recently abolished. He bumped back to the rip, with Sun-Mon rest.
Believe that gauge was GO-NO GO at 1"-15/16". But consult a carman, or look for FREIGHT CAR standards at AAR's websight!
You may buy a wheel gauge from AAR as well. They cost about $8.00.
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Hmm. That address doesnt look right. It looks like the link pointing here was faulty.
