I saw a card on some railroad cars while walking home what does it mean?

Question

the card said home shop for repair do not load defective cushioning device what is this

Answer 1

under the C.F.R / F.R.A 215.129

defective cushioning device

a railroad may not place or continue in service a car if the following ..... broken, inoperative .. missing a part , unless its sliding components have been effectively immobilized. far the tag go the handling line has rejected the cars for this damage if not they will be charge for the damage S.C.D.  This is to help protect the lading . most commonly found on GBS gondolas which hauls steel coils.

Answer 2

It means the cars are out of service for repair.

Answer 3

This car has been "bad ordered" and is being returned to the owner for repairs.  Often times there is a further restriction placed on a car denoting "rear end only."  This would be a car with defective draft gear of a more serious nature.

Cushioning devices are of different types.  One is the "end of car" cushioning apparatus.  This is where the drawbar runs into the coupler pocket and is buffered by heavy duty springs.  This alleviates much of the mechanical shock that can be imparted to the car as a result of slack action or when coupling to another car or being coupled to, and consequently, the lading is better protected.

A similar device works the same but is accomplished through hydraulics rather than springs.

Another type is the "sliding sill" arrangement.  Here, the components are spring or hydraulically cushioned, but the entire center sill that runs the length of the car is movable.

Answer 4

Most likely it means "Do not use this railcar" it needs to go back to its home railyard for repairs. Sounds like the springs in the bogies are shot.

Answer 5

Really bad defects may result in it being carded to the next level, which would prohibit its movement until the defect was made safe enough to return to depot.