Can anyone tell me when the new regs were adopted and what precipitated this FRA action?<br>



wyld@oc-net.com

Thats a big question, I am sure there will be a lot of answers. Basically the new regs were adopted at the first of this year (2000) after many years of committee work. Part of the regs are in effect at the first of 2001 and then the regs will be fully in effect january 18th 2002. There isn't any finger pointing as to what preciptated the new regs rather it was just to bring all the inspection frequencies into line with the new realities of running steam. The main thrust of the new regs is for all steam locomotives to reformulate the form 4 specification card for each steam locomotive to run past Jan 18, 2002. The reason being is that perhaps some of these locomotives have metal in the boiler that through time is not of full thickness (as built). Now the metal has to be proved through ultrasonic testing then the factor of safety and operating pressure proved through the calculations. Once this is done a new form 4 is generated and filed with FRA. The best thing for you to do is to go to www.steamcentrel.com and look at the new regs, downlaod a copy and read them.<br>

It was precipitated by several serious accidents, and a lot of other near-misses. And FRA uncovering a few real horror stories. Plus the realization that every person in FRA and in the steam business, had his own idea of how to live with the old regs, and sometimes these "ideas" got miles away from what the old regs actually required.<br>

The new regs as they are have been in the works for 10 years. Some of the accidents and near misses happened during the process as well as the much talked about Gettsburg accident. To say that the new part 230 is because of these is not entirely true however these "events" certainly opened some eyes on the committee as well as the FRA.<br>