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Excuse my ignorance but for us laymen and "foamers" what is a cylinder QRB handbrake valve?
Wyhog:
I'm through page 71 so far and have to agree this is an indictment of the system. So much of what I have read so far has me just shaking my head in disbelief.
I've been particularly surprised at the complete lack of testing on brake effectiveness in operating personnel re qualifications.
I was also surprised to learn that the hand brakes on these engines only applied the brake shoes against two wheels. How that little brake application can count toward the 10% of cars / engines having hand brakes applied is puzzling.
All in all, what I have read so far has been a real eye opener and doesn't leave me with much confidence as a hazmat shipper.
Curt
I'm through page 71 so far and have to agree this is an indictment of the system. So much of what I have read so far has me just shaking my head in disbelief.
I've been particularly surprised at the complete lack of testing on brake effectiveness in operating personnel re qualifications.
I was also surprised to learn that the hand brakes on these engines only applied the brake shoes against two wheels. How that little brake application can count toward the 10% of cars / engines having hand brakes applied is puzzling.
All in all, what I have read so far has been a real eye opener and doesn't leave me with much confidence as a hazmat shipper.
Curt
As with most all railroad "accidents" it was a culmination of many things done wrong. From ignoring reports of a locomotive problem, to repairing it on the cheap and "hay-wiring" it, to...
Come on now, they didn't use bailing wire. They used J-B weld to repair the camshaft bearing seat for a GE FDL prime mover. What could go wrong with that?
The bad repair seems to have resulted in damage to the engine that took it beyond economic repair. I'm guessing they were reluctant to deal with that reality.
Reality has a horrible way of demanding your attention when she feels ignored.
Yikes! A regulating authority with no authority to protect the public and a business that relies on "good enough". Isn't this similar to what happened at the deep water oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico a few years ago?
Nathan
