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.
PDF version of AAR Circular Summaries available here.
Implementation Circulars
C-12838
Revision to MSRP Section F, SENSORS, S-920, Axle Repair Tracking
Issued: March 02, 2017
Effective: Immediate
S-920 has been revised. A copy of the revised document is attached to the circular. The modifications will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section F. In the interim, please insert the circular attachment into your copy of MSRP Section F and be governed accordingly.
C-12839
Retiring of MSRP Section H-III, Lubrication Manual; Elimination of Section H-III from Field Manual Rule 1 requirements; Editorial Change to Field Manual Rule 65
Issued: March 06, 2017
Effective: Immediate
Section H-III is no longer an AAR Field Manual Rule 1 requirement. Revisions to Rule 1.5.b and Rule 65.B.3 are identified in the circular. This Circular is identified as mandatory and must be maintained until the next revision of the Field Manual.
C-12842
Revisions to Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section M; Specification M-916; Sand for Traction
Issued: March 08, 2017
Effective: Immediate
M-916 has been revised. A copy of the revised document is attached to the circular. The modifications will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section M. In the interim, please insert the circular attachment into your copy of MSRP Section M and be governed accordingly.
C-12843
Additional Terms and Definitions to Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section M; Standard S-5019, Locomotive Definitions
Issued: March 08, 2017
Effective: Immediate
The definitions document has been expanded from a single term and definition to add nineteen (19) new locomotive related terms and definitions. The revised AAR standard S-5019 is attached to this circular.
The revised S-5019 standard will be reflected in the next issue of Section M. In the interim please insert this circular in your copy of MSRP Section M and be governed accordingly.
C-12844
Editorial Revision to MSRP Section M, Standard S-5515; Led Lighting for Locomotives
Issued: March 08, 2017
Effective: Immediate
This circular implements the editorial revision which references Section K-I Standard S-5702 as a source of input to Section M, Standard S-5515; Led Lighting For Locomotives
Refer to the circular for updated revisions. This revision to the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section M, Standard S-5515 “Led lighting for locomotives” is now implemented effective immediately. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C-12845
Revision to MSRP Section S-II; Truck Details and Casting Codes, S-392; Trademark Updates
Issued: March 17, 2017
Effective: Immediate
The attachment to this Circular contains a partial replacement of S-392. These revisions to the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section S-II, S-392; “Truck details and casting codes”, are now implemented effective immediately. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C-12846
New standard in MSRP Section E; Brakes And Brake Equipment, S-4047; Positive Train Control Locomotive Air Brake Interface Requirements
Issued: March 17, 2017
Effective: Immediate
The purpose of this new standard is to identify the interface requirements between the positive train control (PTC) system and the locomotive air brake system for the purpose of PTC penalty brake applications. The new standard is attached to the circular and is now implemented effective immediately. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C-12848
Revisions to MSRP Section S; Casting Details, Specification M-220; Casting Component Nondestructive Testing Requirements
Issued: March 21, 2017
Effective: Immediate
The proposed revisions clarified that the requirement for recording serial numbers applies to manufacturing, reconditioning, or secondhand classification. The attachment to this Circular Letter replaces M-220 in its entirety. These revisions to the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section S, M-220;“Casting details,” are now implemented effective immediately. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C-12849
Revision to MSRP Section H-II, ROLLER BEARING MANUAL, S-721; Inspection Criteria, S-725; Interchangeable Parts, and S-726; Remanufacture Facility title
Issued: March 27, 2017
Effective: Immediate
The attachment to this Circular contains the following replacement pages: H-II [S-721] 1-18; H-II [S-725] 1-6; H-II [S-726] 1-18. These revisions to the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section H-II, ”Roller Bearing Manual” are now implemented effective immediately. Please update your library and be governed accordingly.
C-12851
Implementation of Revision to MSRP Section F, Standard S-6009 – Data Summary – Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI)
Issued: March 31, 2017
Effective: Immediate
The revisions to S-6009 are being implemented as proposed in Circular Letter C-12822 and are effective immediately. The modifications will be incorporated in the next issue of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section F. In the interim, please insert the circular attachment into your copy of MSRP Section F and be governed accordingly.
Solicitation of Comments Circulars
C-12837
Proposed Revisions to MSRP Sections C (Car Construction) and M (Locomotives) for New Standard S-2056- “Clearance plate diagrams for interchange service” and “New clearance plate M-locomotive diagram for interchange service.”
Issued: March 02, 2017
Effective: 30 days for comments
Implementation will require modifications to both MSRP Section C “Car Construction Fundamentals and Details,” and MSRP Section M “Locomotives and Locomotive Interchange Equipment.” Attached to the circular is a list of the existing standards that will cease to exist as standalone publications.
C-12841
Revision to MSRP Section F, Standard S-6020, Data Summary, Line of Road Failure, No Cause Found (LORF-NCF)
Issued: March 08, 2017
Effective: 30 days for comments
The Equipment Health Monitoring Committee has proposed revising S-6020 to include the new element “Total group count.” The proposed changes can be found in subsections 2.0 “Data summary elements” and 3.0 “Data summary roll up example.” The proposed changes are included in the attachment to the circular.
Notice Circulars
C-12840
Car Repair Facility Labor Rate
Issued: March 07, 2017
Effective: April 1, 2017
The Car Repair Facility Labor Rate will be $129.74 and is unchanged from the previous quarter.
C-12850
Elimination of the Canadian Price Master – Delayed Based on Industry Comments Received
Issued: March 28, 2017
Effective: N/A
On February 23, 2017, Circular Letter C-12836 was issued soliciting comments on the elimination of the Canadian Price Master. Based on comments received, the Car Repair Billing Committee will delay the elimination of the Canadian Price Master at this time. A 2017 Q2 Canadian Price Master will be created by the AAR and made available to the industry via Railinc. The circular includes contact information and step-by-step instructions to request access to the document.
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.