BN PROGRAMS KEEP COAL CARS MOVING

Strict new-car standards, an extensive preventive maintenance program, and careful running repairs are intended to keep running smoothly the 30,000 hopper and gondola cars used in unit coal train service at the end of 1980. These BN cars accumulate 70,000 to 140,000 miles annually. Following an introduction, two longer articles-- Upgraded Standard for BN cars and Car Maintenance Important, Too--give details on BN design and maintenance practices. BN feels that AAR Mechanical Division car standards are often minimal, not always even adequate for general interchange service and certainly not for unit-train equipment. Since much of unit-train maintenance expense involves running gear, BN stresses specifications for wheels, bearings, truck and brakes. Details are given on requirements for virtually every component of carbodies also on these hoppers and gondolas. Preventive maintenance involves four special shops and a rigorous schedule which calls for components to be repaired or renewed in multiples of a basic 200,000-mile overhaul cycle.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/4175009
• Corporate Authors:

  Murphy-Richter Publishing Company

  20 North Wacker Driver
  Chicago, IL  United States  60606
• Publication Date: 1980-9

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 101-104
• Serial:
  • Progressive Railroading
  • Volume: 23
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: Trade Press Publishing Corporation
  • ISSN: 0033-0817
  • Serial URL: http://www.progressiverailroading.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coal; Coal industry; Design; Freight cars; Freight traffic; Gondola cars; High capacity cars; Hopper cars; Maintenance practices; Preventive maintenance; Specifications; Unit trains; Vehicle design; Wear; Wheels
• Identifier Terms: BNSF Railway
• Uncontrolled Terms: Design criteria
• Old TRIS Terms: Freight car component performance; Freight car design
• Subject Areas: Design; Freight Transportation; Maintenance and Preservation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00323222
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 6 1981 12:00AM