Freight Cars

PHMSA Issues DOT-111 Tank Car Safety Advisory

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), on March 22 released a safety advisory, which it said was to “re-emphasize previously raised concerns about the survivability of DOT-111 tank cars and encourage tank car owners and shippers of flammable liquids to voluntarily upgrade their tank car fleets to the newest, and safest, available tank car design authorized for flammable liquid service—the DOT-117 specification tank car.”

CSX: Paid Sick Leave for IBEW

CSX on March 22 reported reaching an agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) for paid sick leave.

Greenbrier’s new orders—comprising tank cars, autoracks, boxcars and covered hoppers—“were consistent with Greenbrier’s expectations for the period,” the manufacturer said March 22.

Greenbrier Lands $580MM in New Railcar Orders

The Greenbrier Companies on March 22 reported receiving orders for 4,500 new railcars during the fiscal second quarter ended Feb. 28, 2023, for which it provided preliminary results, including deliveries of 7,200 units. TD Cowen offers insight.

  • News

Railway Age Strengthens Editorial Team

Three railroad industry veterans—Robert H. Cantwell, Michael Iden and Ron Sucik—have joined Railway Age as Contributing Editors, adding to the publication’s deep well of knowledge and experience. Principal of Rail Supply Chain

  • News

Wheel/Rail Friction RCFS Testing

MxV RAIL R&D, RAILWAY AGE MARCH 2022 ISSUE: MxV Rail (formerly TTCI) conducted a series of full-scale wheel/rail (W/R) rolling contact tests using its Rolling Contact Fatigue Simulator (RCFS) to investigate the

Wheelsets Suspected in NS Springfield Derailment

On March 8, following a second derailment in Ohio that did not involve a hazmat spill or any injuries, Norfolk Southern identified loose wheelsets on a series of recently acquired coil steel cars that present an increased risk of an out-of-gage-derailment. The Association of American Railroads immediately issued a service advisory instructing railroads to pull so-equipped cars from service, inspect them, and replace all wheelsets of a particular type.

Commentary

SFG Takeaways From REF 2023

Three days with hundreds of rail equipment industry participants at Rail Equipment Finance 2023 reveal a railcar market that is healthier than we’ve feared into 2023 (lease rate inflation overwhelming the demand-side drag from anemic rail volumes), while the runway for continued investment in diesel locomotives appears to stretch into the 2030s (both rebuilds and new).

LOAD MORE