Train car repairs. How offten are freight cars inspected?

Question

How offten do railroads, inspect there rolling stock? Do they inspect freight cars in the hump yards or do they pull the cars off the rails each year? Seems like there are lots of freight cars that sit in sidings without inspctions of the breaks, hoses, and wheel bearings.

Answer 1

the cars are inspected every time a train is made up at it's originating station

and then every 1000 miles enroute.

I have marveled at the brake systems on freight cars, they can sit on a track in storage for years, and when we pick them up, the brake systems more often than not will work perfectly.

Of course the opposite is sometimes true but considering the lack of maintenance rail cars get, it is quite remarkable how dependable and safe they really are.

Answer 2

Trains and equipment are inspected as said above.

In addition each piece of rolling stock has emblazoned on the side the "COTS" date.  You'll see it there in the "black" field along with other data.

"COTS" stands for Cleaned, Oiled, Tested and Stenciled and is mandated by the FRA to be done no less than every ten years for the life of the car, which is currently 50 years, also by FRA mandate.

A word of advice for my Brothers:  If you're in the ditch, check the COTS date on the cars involved ASAP.  I've had at least three major problems arise where the culprit has been a car with out of date COTS maintenance.  Best to CYA or risk accusations of a "man failure" accident if the carrier can hang it on ya...

Answer 3

Railroads have tons of rolling stock.  Railroads I believe are doing the best to inspect them annually but i think it may get as bad as 3 years for some cars.  which is not helping railroads in any way because there is more work to be done which costs more money.

Answer 4

An official inspection can occur at terminals where the train is made up.  But crews are constantly watching for defects along the line of road.  Watching your train in  a curve, giving a  passerby a "roll by", picking up at an industry, and switching in the yard all present opportunities to note defects and keep America moving!!