Subject: Brakes - 26C & D22 (11/15/00)
Yesterday, Rick Degman notified Jack Heard by letter that "effective immediately, Amtrak will be incrementally increasing train length from 30 to 45 cars on Trains 3 and 4. With a train 30 cars or greater in length, passenger style brakes set in direct release will not respond quickly enough for safe operation and have the potential to stay applied. The following rules apply immediately to movements of private cars on Trains 3 and 4 and all future Amtrak trains 30 cars or greater in length:
Private cars with freight style brakes (ABDW, ABDX or DB-60) may be used immediately with no modifications.
Private cars with 26-C systems may be used only after a modification to the brake system. Owners interested in this modification may contact Harold Weisinger.
Private cars with D-22 and UC brake valves will not be permitted on these trains.
Amtrak has already modified all applicable Amtrak passenger, express, mail and roadrailer cars for the new operation. Amtrak sincerely apologizes for the short notice provided to AAPRCO on this operational change. All private car requests currently on file on these trains will be honored (there are only two). After these moves, there will be no further exceptions allowed." It is not clear at this time, whether this will result in Trains 3 and 4 becoming end point to end point only. Degman did not know the answer. Private cars will be positioned against the Amtrak passenger cars with power. I will contact Weisinger, and attempt to obtain the information necessary to make the necessary modifications, and post same. I would also point out that we had no advance notice of this unexpected change. I do not believe that D-22 valves are any slower than AB or ABD valves that are ordinarily used in freight cars. It is my understanding that the D-22 valve was developed from and is compatible with the AB valve. Many of us have run D-22 equipped cars in freight trains of 100 cars, without deleterious effects.
UPDATE: BRAKES 26C Modification for 30 car and longer trains, List of Qualified Shops 11/14/00 Harold Weisinger has provided a memo listing the shops which have been approved to install and test the 26C brake modification for use on longer trains. The following comments from Harold apply and are in addition to the Memo dated Sept. 15, 2000:
1. The list is for shops to do PV's, not Amtrak equipment. Amtrak shops should not do this work without arrangement with me and them and owner.
2. I sent out a letter to all the shops I thought could perform the modification. If any other shop wishes to be on the list, they can contact me and I'll evaluate the possibility.
3. Amtrak will not accept any modifications done by the do-it-yourselfer. I'll only accept the modifications done by a shop from the list. The parts on the list MUST be used. I'm not going to get into a debate with someone over what they feel they can substitute. I'm going to ask for a receipt so parts can be verified and the special air test MUST be performed to verify a proper modification.
4. You can put out my phone number and email. The phone and fax numbers are on the Memo and the e-mail is: weisingh@amtrak.com Any Facility or specialist desiring to perform modifications for the PV world can contact me. They will have to be able to make contact with Wabco and order parts .
AMTRAK CORPORATE EQUIPMENT ENGINEERING AND MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT
15 South Poplar Street Wilmington, DE 19801
MEMEORANDUM DATE: September 15, 2000
TO: Distribution FROM: H. B. Weisinger
Senior Engineer, Private Cars
weisinh@ amtrak.com fax 302-683-2096
phone: 302-683-2066
SUBJECT: Modification of 26-C Brake System
The following people and shops have been approved to install and test the 26-C brake modification with the 900in^3 supplemental volume for use on trains of 30 cars or greater. There is no test data to support the use of non modified cars at the head end of trains. These shops have been supplied a modification plan. That plan contains a parts list which must be used.
Avalon Railcar, Milwaukee, WI
June Garland 414-475-2155
Illinois Transit Assembly, Madison, IL
Les Kasten 618-451-0100
Mid America Loco & Car, Evansville, IN
Chuck Jensen 812-421-1760
Northern Railcar, Milwaukee, WI
John Morgano 414-438-8999
Pittsburgh Air Brake , Coraopolis, PA
Bill Jubeck 412-695-4504
Sea Island Passenger Service
Mark Magers 419-483-0729 Bellevue, OH
Touchton Air Brake, Jacksonville, FL
Brett Stolte 904-389-5450
Train Source, Inc. Arcadia, CA
Stan Garner 626-447-8286
Tess Air Supply, Washington, DC
Ron Truitt 304-725-0548
Western Maryland Scenic Rwy
Dan Pluta 304-738-1022 Cumberland, MD
Paul DeVerter II
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