[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 4569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2300]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Notice of Safety Bulletin
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Safety Bulletin.
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SUMMARY: The FRA is issuing Safety Bulletin 97-1 addressing recommended
safety practices for certain locomotives equipped with emergency MU
fuel line cut-off devices located inside the locomotive control
compartment at a location which enables the cut-off device to be
activated unintentionally.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Taylor, Staff Director, Operating
Practices Division, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance, FRA, 400
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone 202-632-3346).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Preliminary investigatory findings following the derailment of a
run-away Union Pacific Railroad (UP) freight train on January 12, 1997,
at Hayden, California, indicate that the emergency multiple-unit (MU)
fuel line cut-off device (cut-off device) located inside the locomotive
control compartment was unintentionally activated by the locomotive
engineer. The engineer was apparently unaware of the activation.
Activation of the cut-off device shuts down all MU'ed locomotives
within a number of seconds. In this case, all three locomotives in the
train were shut down. As a result, the engineer lost all of the dynamic
brake retarding effect being used to control the speed of the train
down a 2.2 percent grade. The engineer initiated an emergency
application of the train's air brakes, but the train continued out of
control and derailed at a siding turnout.
The cut-off device on this locomotive is located below waist level
on the face of the control stand superstructure on the engineer's left
side. Although the plastic guard surrounding the cut-off device was
found broken, a test conducted on a similar locomotive indicated that
even with the guard in place it was possible to operate the cut-off
device simply by brushing it with a person's knee. The locomotive's
manufacturer, General Motor's Corporation, Electro-Motive Division,
(EMD), indicates that at least 365 SD-60M series locomotives
manufactured for UP are equipped with cut-off devices similarly
located. Information available to FRA indicates that these locomotives
are identified as UP6000 thru UP6365. There may be other locomotives
with similar designs on other railroads.
Recommendation
In light of the potential dangers involved in loss of dynamic
braking due to inadvertent activation of the emergency MU fuel-line
cut-off device on some locomotives, FRA strongly recommends that the
following safety precautions be taken:
1. All railroads must inspect all locomotives to determine if the
emergency MU fuel line cut-off device is located in such a position in
the locomotive cab that it can be inadvertently activated by the
engineer. If the device is located in such a position, the corrective
action in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 must be initiated.
2. Relocate the cut-off device to a location where the device can
not be unintentionally activated, or
Protect the cut-off device in a housing that prevents unintentional
activation.
3. Until the improvements listed above are made, these locomotives
must not be operated in the controlling or lead position.
FRA recognizes that there may be operational conditions under which
these locomotives, while in the trailing position, must be occupied by
employees. Under these circumstances, the engineer's seat must remain
unoccupied to the greatest extent possible. If such trailing locomotive
is to be occupied, the conductor must brief all occupants as to the
location of the cut-off device and the need to avoid all contact with
it.
Issued in Washington, D.C. on January 17, 1997.
Bruce Fine,
Associate Administrator for Safety.
[FR Doc. 97-2300 Filed 1-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
