Notice2023-19677
Safety Advisory 2023-04; High-Impact Wheels Causing Damage to Rails and Track Structures
Primary source
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Published
September 12, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Railroad Administration
Abstract
This Safety Advisory recommends railroads utilize Wheel Impact Load Detectors (WILD) to properly identify and replace high-impact railcar wheels that could cause significant damage to rails and supporting track structures. FRA's preliminary investigation of a recent train derailment in Gothenburg, Nebraska, indicates that high- impact wheels damaged the rail the train was operating over and caused the derailment. Current industry practices for using WILDs to identify and replace high-impact wheels could help prevent such incidents in the future.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 175 (Tuesday, September 12, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62623-62624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-19677]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Safety Advisory 2023-04; High-Impact Wheels Causing Damage to
Rails and Track Structures
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of safety advisory.
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SUMMARY: This Safety Advisory recommends railroads utilize Wheel Impact
Load Detectors (WILD) to properly identify and replace high-impact
railcar wheels that could cause significant damage to rails and
supporting track structures. FRA's preliminary investigation of a
recent train derailment in Gothenburg, Nebraska, indicates that high-
impact wheels damaged the rail the train was operating over and caused
the derailment. Current industry practices for using WILDs to identify
and replace high-impact wheels could help prevent such incidents in the
future.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Charles P. King, Director, Office
of Railroad Infrastructure and Mechanical Equipment, at telephone: 202-
329-5031 or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f6b59e97849a9385d8bd9f9891b6929982d8919980"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0e3c8c1d2ccc5d38eebc9cec7e0c4cfd48ec7cfd6">[email protected]</span></a>.
Disclaimer: This Safety Advisory is considered guidance pursuant to
DOT Order 2100.6A (June 7, 2021). Except when referencing laws,
regulations, policies, or orders, the information in this Safety
Advisory does not have the force and effect of law and is not meant to
bind the public in any way. This document does not revise or replace
any previously issued guidance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
In 2015, FRA issued Safety Advisory 2015-01 recommending, among
other things, the use of WILDs to improve safety,\1\ recognizing the
potential value of these wayside detection systems, if they are
appropriately installed, maintained, and utilized. FRA recommended
railroads continue to install and maintain WILDs along certain routes
and monitor their measurements to determine when to replace wheels. In
that Safety Advisory, FRA also recommended that railroads lower the
impact threshold for action to replace the wheels on any car in a high-
hazard flammable train.
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\1\ <a href="https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/mechanical-inspections-and-wheel-impact-load-detector-standards-trains-transporting-large">https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/mechanical-inspections-and-wheel-impact-load-detector-standards-trains-transporting-large</a>.
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WILDs supplement, and do not substitute, the existing wheel
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regulations \2\ that focus on preventing broken wheels and other wheel
failures. WILD measurements are intended to focus more on the
interaction between the wheels and the rail and prevent broken rails
and other rail failures. WILDs are designed to measure the impact of a
railcar's wheels on the rail and alert the operating railroad and car
owner when wheels have a high impact. WILDs measure this impact on the
rail in KIPs (1,000 pounds-force). High-impact wheels (generally
considered to be more than 90 KIPs) are typically caused by a flat spot
or other wheel defect. If not addressed, high-impact wheels can damage
rail and track structures and cause a derailment.
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\2\ See, e.g., 49 CFR 215.103, 229.73, 229.75.
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On February 21, 2023, 30 freight cars carrying coal derailed in a
train in Gothenburg, Nebraska. FRA's preliminary investigation
indicates the derailment was likely caused by high-impact wheels
breaking a track joint bar. Records from FRA's investigation show one
of the freight cars had a WILD measurement of 130.6 KIPs when it
operated over the track joint bar that was found broken. Records also
show this freight car continued to operate for several months prior to
the derailment after its high-impact wheels were identified by WILDs.
WILD measurements showed high-impact wheels in November and December
2022, and again in January 2023. During its investigation, FRA also
identified eight other freight cars in the derailed train with high-
impact wheels.
Recommendations
In light of the Gothenburg, Nebraska, accident, FRA recommends
railroads and contractors continue to use WILDs to help identify and
replace high-impact wheels according to railroad current industry
practices. Specifically, wheels with a WILD measurement greater than 80
KIPs should be replaced when in a repair shop, and wheels with a WILD
measurement greater than 90 KIPs should be replaced when found in any
other location in service. In addition, railroads should review
procedures for identifying dynamic ratios to help predict high-impact
wheels when cars are loaded. A dynamic ratio is the ratio of a WILD
measurement of a loaded railcar compared to when it is empty. The peak
impact is the highest WILD measurement recorded. The impact measurement
varies during operation due to the changing operating environment,
including changes in speed. Wheels should be replaced when an empty
railcar with a dynamic ratio of 5 or higher has a preceding peak impact
greater than 100 KIPs. Replacement at such time will reduce or
eliminate further damage to the freight car's wheels, rails, and track
structures. In addition, FRA recommends railroads and contractors
review this Safety Advisory with employees to increase their awareness
of the possible consequences of allowing freight cars with high-impact
wheels to continue to operate.
Conclusion
FRA encourages all railroad industry members to take actions
consistent with the recommendations of this Safety Advisory. FRA may
modify this Safety Advisory, issue additional safety advisories, or
take other appropriate action necessary to ensure the highest level of
safety on the Nation's railroads, including pursuing other corrective
measures under its rail safety authority.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Amitabha Bose,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-19677 Filed 9-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
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