About AAR Circular Letters
Circular letter summaries are produced monthly by Greenbrier’s Regulatory Management team, a division of Greenbrier Management Services Group.
AAR circular letters provide information of general applicability to the railroad industry, including proposed and final rules, revisions, standards and recommended practices, and calls for comments. These summaries provide the main points of circular letters issued in the prior month, as well as important implementation deadlines.
For access to the complete circular letter, please go to my.aar.org/circulars. Circular letters are a fee-based service provided by the AAR’s Transportation Technology Center Incorporated (TTCI). You may subscribe online at publications@aar.com or call 719.584.0538.
Implementation Circulars
C- 13180
Implementation of Revised MSRP Section I, Intermodal Equipment Manual, 2018
Issued: August 1, 2018
Effective: August 1, 2018
The revised MSRP Section I is now available in both printed and download versions. The manual can be purchased online at the following website: www.aarpublications.com. All previously implemented standards and specifications are included in the print of Section I (attached to the circular). Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C- 13181
Implementation of Revisions to Figures 205, 260, 206-A, 210, 246, 247, 248 and 251 – Section 3 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Issued: August 1, 2018
Effective: August 1, 2018
The implementation of this revision is effective immediately and will be included in the next edition of the AAR’s OTLR Manual. In the interim, please insert the circular attachment for these figures into your copy Section 3 and be governed accordingly. Carriers are asked to ensure that copies of the circular letter are distributed to all concerned shippers and railroad personnel for their attention and guidance.
C- 13182
Implementation of Revision to Figure 260 – Section 3 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Issued: August 1, 2018
Effective: August 1, 2018
The AAR’s Open Top Loading Rules Committee (OTLRC) has approved a revision to Figures 260- EXCAVATORS, CRAWLER, WITH GROUSERS, 160,000 LB OR LESS WITH BOOM ATTACHED—FLATCARS, WITH CHAIN TIEDOWN ASSEMBLY AND CUSHIONING DEVICES – Section 3 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules. The implementation of this revision is effective immediately and will be included in the next edition of the AAR’s OTLR Manual. In the interim, please insert the circular attachment for Figure 260 in your copy of Section 3 and be governed accordingly. Carriers are asked to ensure that copies of the circular letter are distributed to all concerned shippers and railroad personnel for their attention and guidance.
C- 13183
Implementation of Revisions to MSRP Section G, Wheels and Axles, M-107/M-208, Hardness Mapping and Wheel Marking
Issued: August 2, 2018
Effective: August 2, 2018
M-107 and M-208 (attached to the circular) are now implemented and effective immediately. This modification will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section G. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C-13184
Implementation of Revisions to Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section M, LOCOMOTIVES AND LOCOMOTIVE INTERCHANGE EQUIPMENT; Standard S-5509 – LOCOMOTIVE DYNAMIC BRAKE STATUS REPORTING
Issued: August 7, 2018
Effective: August 7, 2018
The revised S-5509 standard will be reflected in the next issue of Section M. In the interim please insert the circular in your copy of MSRP Section M and be governed accordingly.
C-13185
Implementation of New Standard for MSRP, Section M, LOCOMOTIVES AND LOCOMOTIV
Issued: August 7, 2018
Effective: August 7, 2018
The newly implemented S-5530 standard will be reflected in the next issue of Section M. In the interim please insert the circular in your copy of MSRP Section M and be governed accordingly.
C- 13190
Implementation of Editorial Revisions to MSRP Section E, BRAKES AND BRAKE EQUIPMENT, Standard S-486, Code of Air Brake Systems Tests for Freight Equipment – Single Car Test, Edits Clarifying Intent
Issued: August 23, 2018
Effective: August 23, 2018
Revisions include editorial changes to correct one reference and one procedure. These changes are reflected on pages 12 and 15. The revised Standard S-486 is now implemented and effective immediately. This modification (attached to the circular) will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section E. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
Call for Comment
C- 13186
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section S, CASTING DETAILS, Specification M-214, Side Frames and Bolsters, Used and Reconditioned – Classification and Repair Procedure, Update to Welding Requirements
Issued: August 8, 2018
Effective: 30 days for comments
The Coupling System and Truck Castings Committee (CSTCC) is proposing changes to M-214 that include consolidating welding related instruction into paragraph 5.0, incorporating OEM recommended practice for welding consumables, and updating Figure D.1. Changes are highlighted with change bars in the file attached to the circular, which replaces M-214 in its entirety. There are no expected costs associated with the proposed changes.
C- 13187
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section H-II, ROLLER BEARING MANUAL, S-723 and S-725, Seal Wear Ring Marking, Secondhand Spacer Requirement, and Interchangeable Parts
Issued: August 14, 2018
Effective: 30 days for comments
The purpose of this circular letter is to solicit comments for proposed revisions to MSRP Section H-II, ROLLER BEARING MANUAL, S-723 and S-725, revisions to maintain marking during reconditioning of seal wear rings, revision to parallel requirements of secondhand spacers, and update to interchangeable parts. The proposed revision has a maximum one-year cost of $1 million and 15-year net present cost of $7.4 million associated with implementation. These costs are below the thresholds prescribed in AAR Standard S-050.
C- 13189
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section S, CASTING DETAILS, Specification M-220, Casting Component Nondestructive Testing Requirements, Regarding Requalification Frequency
Issued: August 20, 2018
Effective: 30 days for comments
The Coupling System and Truck Castings Committee (CSTCC) has proposed changes to the requalification frequency for inspectors that better reflect typical NDT industry requalification frequency requirements. Changes are highlighted with change bars in the file attached to the circular. The attached file replaces M-220 in its entirety. There are no costs associated with these changes.
C- 13191
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section S-II, TRUCK DETAILS AND CASTING CODES, Standard S-301, Truck 33-In. Wheels – Design Dimensions, Regarding Updates to Drawings and Tables
Issued: August 23, 2018
Effective: 30 days for comments
The Coupling System and Truck Castings Committee (CSTCC) has updated drawing and tables for S-301. Proposed changes include rearranged tables to better group related dimensions, addition of 6 in. x 8 in. journal size dimensions, and revised drawings for clarity and accuracy. The proposal (attached to the circular) will replace S-301 in its entirety. There are no costs associated with the proposed changes.
C- 13192
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section S-II, TRUCK DETAILS AND CASTING CODES, Standard S-304, Truck 38-In. Wheels – Design Dimensions, Regarding Updates to Drawings and Tables
Issued: August 23, 2018
Effective: 30 days for comments
The Coupling System and Truck Castings Committee (CSTCC) has updated drawing and tables for S-304. Proposed changes include the addition of 7 in. x 9 in. journal size, and revised drawings to provide dimensions related to use of multiple-wear wheels, to correct labels and to improve clarity. The proposal (attached to the circular) will replace S-304 in its entirety. There are no costs associated with the proposed changes.
C- 13193
Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section S-II, TRUCK DETAILS AND CASTING CODES, Standard S-302, Truck 36-In. Wheels – Design Dimensions, Regarding Updates to Drawings and Tables
Issued: August 23, 2018
Effective: 30 days for comments
The Coupling System and Truck Castings Committee (CSTCC) has updated drawing and tables for S-302. Proposed changes include the addition of 6.5 in. x 9 in. journal size dimensions and updated drawings to improve clarity and to correct dimension labels. The proposal (attached to the circular) will replace S-302 in its entirety. There are no costs associated with the proposed changes.
C- 13195
Solicitation of Comments – Proposed New Standard for MSRP, Section M, LOCOMOTIVES AND LOCOMOTIVE INTERCHANGE EQUIPMENT: Standard S-5516 – LED HEADLIGHTS AND AUXILIARY LIGHTING FOR LOCOMOTIVES
Issued: August 27, 2018
Effective: 30 days for comments
A draft of the proposed standard S-5516 is attached to the circular.
Notice Circulars
C- 13179
Subject: Updated Fall 2018 AAR Technical Committee Meeting Schedule
Issued: August 1, 2018
Effective: N/A
Schedules for Technical Committee meetings for the second half of 2018 are included in the circular.
C-13188
Informational Circular, Implementation of TRUCK_GMTRY (Truck Geometry Detection- TGD) Data Summary
Issued: August 14, 2018
Effective: August 15, 2018 (Planned)
Truck Geometry Detection (TGD) is a laser-based system with cameras mounted on tangent track. The detector draws a laser line on the wheel plate and then compares the angle and position of this line to the track and determines wheel angle (angle of attack) and distance (tracking position) with respect to the gauge side of the rail. The planned date of implementation is August 15, 2018.
C- 13194
Informational Circular, Field “DDCT Incident ID” Available in Car Repair Billing Data Exchange
Issued: August 24, 2018
Effective: August 24, 2018
The purpose of this circular letter is to remind users of Railinc’s CRB Data Exchange that a new, optional field, “DDCT Incident ID”, is available for use when submitting Billing Repair Cards. The intent of this field is to allow the ability to correlate actual repair costs of a car to its associated DDCT incident to ensure accurate reporting to the FRA. The AAR encourages using this field when submitting billing data for repairs made in conjunction with a DDCT incident.
Greenbrier’s Regulatory Services Group
Peace of mind for your business.
The Regulatory Management Group, led by James Rader, provides regulatory, engineering, process consulting and advocacy support to the railcar repair industry and the petrochemical rail shipper community.
- ASNT Level III Subscription Services
- DOT Compliance Assessments (Corporate and Plant)
- DOT Hazardous Materials Training (Corporate and Plant)
- Expert Witness Services in Rail-Related Litigation
- Federal Government Claims Mitigation (e.g. FRA and PHMSA)
- Nondestructive Testing Programs
- Quality Assurance Program Development
- Regulatory Counsel and Policy Advocacy
- Railcar Repair Management (Design Review, Drawings, Engineering and AAR Approval Administration)
- Tank Car Reliability and Maintenance Programs (49 CFR Subpart F of Part 180)
- Tank Car Maintenance Data Collection and Reliability Performance Analysis
- Welding Program Development
For inquiries about these summaries or any of our services, please reach out to: regulatoryservices@gbrx.com
About Greenbrier Management Services (GMS)
Greenbrier Management Services (GMS) is North America’s most comprehensive railcar management solutions provider. GMS manages nearly 400,000 railcars and has invested over 20 years in developing technology, processes, and people to provide the best railcar management products and services in the industry. GMS is powered by proprietary software and the best subject matter experts in the railcar business.
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Combined, these two vitally important capabilities are able to deliver world-class solutions to every type of customer, from Class I railroads, lessors and industrial shippers to financial investors. GMS brings broad expertise to cover nearly any railcar management need that customers may have and its integrated solutions and reporting can be customized for any customer function or management need.