Subject: Wheels, Rim Stamped (3/20/1999)
In mid January, 1994, Ringling Bros. had a wreck caused by a fractured, previously overheated, rim stamped wheel. The wheel was of the straight plate variety, and was tread braked. As a result the National Transportation Safety Board made a recommendation that all tread braked, straight plate, rim stamped wheels be prohibited from further use on Amtrak trains, and that such wheels not be used for replacement on such trains. We were able to prevail on Amtrak to request a partial waiver for private cars which already had such wheels mounted under them. This required the annual dye checking of such wheels on private cars, in order to check for signs of thermal cracking. The term for the waiver expires on June 30, 2000.
Amtrak sent all private car owners a letter in September 1995 advising that no new application of rim stamped wheels would be permitted (regardless of whether tread braked or not), and that after June 30, 2000, Amtrak would not move any tread braked passenger cars with rim stamped, straight plate wheels. I have previously sent out sketches showing how to determine if you have a straight plate wheel. I also believe that there are no curved plate 36" passenger car wheels being made in this country. It is possible that there are 36" freight car wheels with a curved plate, but you are unlikely to have them on your car because the axle dimensions would have to be changed.
Amtrak had advised its inspectors to reject all rim stamped wheels after June 30, 2000, even if they are not tread braked. I believe Harold Weisinger said the same thing at our 1998 convention, and confirmed the same in a memo to me last month. However, as of March 20, this is now changed. The ban against the new installation of rim stamped wheels continues, but there is no prohibition against the use of rim stamped, disk braked, straight plate wheels after 2000.
There have been no incidents caused by the continued use of the existing already mounted rim stamped wheels on private cars. Therefor I propose to request that Amtrak reconsider and seek a further extension for the tread braked wheels from the NTSB. If we can convince both bodies, we will be able to get more use out of our current wheels. I have been asked to advise you that the AAR has issued instructions to replace and scrap or ultrasonically test most wheels made by MAFERSA of Brazil. A goodly number have been imported into the US since 1994. However, none of them are 36".
Paul DeVerter II
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