What government agency regulates the inspection and testing of brake equipment on railroad locomotives and cars?
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
What rule details the safety inspection of freight cars?
Rule 1.33, Inspection of Freight Cars
Who can perform inspections and brake tests?
Qualified Person, Qualified Mechanical Inspector, or Qualified Maintenance Person as specified by federal regulations.
After fundamental training on freight car inspections and air brake tests, would a trainman be considered a "Qualified Person?
Yes
During the safety inspection, is an inspection on both sides of the train required?
Yes
Can cars placed in a train be moved prior to a safety inspection?
No
Can inspections by "Qualified Mechanical Inspectors" extend the distance a train may travel before additional inspections and tests are required?
Yes (Extended Haul Train)
What must you do before coupling air hoses together?
Shake debris out of hoses and blow all condensation from locomotive brake pipe or yard air line.
What should be done to prevent an air hose from dragging whenever the train is moved?
Air hoses inspected for condition, properly coupled, and all parts of brake equipment secured.
Unless brakes fail en route, how many cars must have operative brakes?
All cars : 100%
What percentage of operative brake equipment must trains have under all circumstances?
At least 85%
Who must be notified when a car's brake equipment fails en route?
Leave information for relieving crew, and notify Dispatcher or Mechanical Help Desk.
What ITEM is referenced to determine the number of operative brakes in train?
SSI, Item 2-F, Maximum Speeds:
Tons Per Operative Brake (TPOB)
How must en route car brake failure be documented ?
Must be tagged, (
"Bad Order" tag
), on both sides of car and noted on train documentation.
Who is in charge while the air brake test is being conducted?
Employee performing the air brake test.
Before conducting the air brake test, what must the person performing the air brake test ensure?
All employees are safely positioned before beginning test.
What is the air pressure regulating valve, also known as, the brake pipe pressure, for yard and freight service set to?
90 psi
What three methods are used to determine the air pressure at the rear of a train?
Accurate gauge, E.O.T. (End-of-Train), and a distributed power locomotive.
When an air brake test requires an inspection to determine that the brakes apply and release on the rear car of the train, what action(s) would fulfill this requirement?
When either an EOT or power consist attached to the rear of the train indicates the following: A decrease in pressure of 5 PSI (Brakes Applied) and an increase in pressure of 5 PSI (Brakes Released). *
Application and Release Test
*
What is the initial, (preferred), method to test brake pipe leakage?
Air Flow Method, (AFM)
What equipment must the locomotive be equipped with, if using the Air Flow Method?
AFM Indicator with a direct reading of air flow in increments no greater than 10 CFM, (Cubic Feet per Minute)
The brake system for freight trains must be charged to what minimum requirement at the REAR before an air test can begin?
75 PSI
Using the Air Flow Method, (AFM), how many CFM cannot be exceeded for test to be complete?
60 CFM
, if air flow exceeds this measurement then the train must be inspected for leakage.
What action is required if air leakage exceeds the maximum amount?
Train must be inspected for leakage and once leakage is corrected, the train must be re-tested.
What test is required when a train does not meet the AFM requirements of 60 CFM?
Brake Pipe Leakage Method
What is the minimum PSI the brake system must be charged to as indicated by a gauge or device at the rear of your train?
75 PSI
During the last
1 minute wait
for the
"Brake Pipe Leakage Test"
, what is the maximum allowed leakage?
Not to exceed 5 PSI
What is the proper piston travel for
truck-mounted
brake cylinders?
Must be within the limits of the travel indicator when brakes are applied and provide brake shoe clearance when brakes are released.
What is the proper piston travel for
body-mounted
brake cylinders?
Class I:
6" to 9"
when brakes applied
Class IA and Transfer Train Test:
6" to 10.5
How do you identify the "B" end of a railcar?
On cars with one handbrake, the "B" end of the car is the
end with the handbrake.
How do you correctly identify the wheel numbers on a car?
To determine the correct wheel numbers on cars:
1. Face the "B" end of the car.
2. From the "B" end of the car, identify the designation of wheels, journals, and axles as
follows:
a.) Axles are designated from the "B" end of the car with "1" for the axle
What types of couplers do we use on the UPRR?
High Strength, (
E
),
and
Standard type, (
F
)
Couplers.
What is the function of the retaining valve and where is it located?
Controls the brake cylinder pressure exhaust; located at the "B" end of car or at the side near the control valve.
What is the function of a Retaining Valve in the
DIRECT EXHAUST (EX)
position?
Exhaust all brake cylinder pressure
What is the function of a Retaining Valve in the
HIGH PRESSURE, (HP)
, position?
Exhausts brake cylinder pressure to
20 PSI
Class I Air Brake Test is also known as?
Initial Terminal Air Brake Test
What inspection must be conducted along with a Class I Air Brake Test? What items are required to be looked at?
A
safety inspection
;
Cars must be checked for:
Leaning, Sagging, Improper position on the truck, Objects hanging or dragging from the car or extending from the side, Insecurely attached doors, Broken or missing safety appliances, Contents leaking from pl
Class I (Initial Terminal Air Brake Test) must be conducted:
-- Where the train is originally assembled.
-- When a unit or cycle train has
traveled 3,000 miles
since its last
Initial Terminal Air Brake Test (Class I).
-- When adding more than one solid block.
-- When removing more than one solid block.
-- A portion
During a Class I (Initial Terminal Air Brake Test), what brake pipe reduction must the engineer make when the signal is given to apply the brakes?
20 PSI
What is required if a car's air brake system releases prior to the signal being given to release for a Class I (Initial Terminal Air Brake Test)?
If any car's brakes release prior to signal being given to release the brakes, then that car may be
retested once
. Brakes must be applied a minimum of
3 minutes.
Can the "brake release inspection" for a Class I (Initial Terminal Air Brake Test) be performed as the train is departing the terminal?
Rolling release inspection may be made, not exceeding
10 MPH
.
3.5.7.
30.
3
.1 : Class I Initial Terminal Air Brake Test
30.
5
.1 : Transfer Train Air Brake Test
30.
7
.1 : Class III, Application and Release Test
What type of air brake test is required when cars are picked up en route, which are not a solid block?
Class I, Initial Terminal Air Brake Test
What is required if qualified employees other than that train's crew have completed the initial terminal air brake test?
Required information must be entered on an
"Air Brake Test Form"
and left on the controlling unit.
What information must be included on the air slip, (Air Brake Test Form)?
Name of inspector, date and time test completed, location where test performed, and number of cars inspected.
What can be used in lieu of an Air Brake Test Form if one is not available?
Use space provided by conductor/engineer on train documentation.
What is the maximum mileage a Cycle Train may operate before another
Class I Air Brake Test must be performed?
3000 miles
What test must be performed on a Cycle Train every 1000 miles?
Class 1A
Who can perform a Class I inspection on an "Extended Haul" train?
Qualified Mechanical Inspector
List the reasons a "Light Engine Running Air Brake Test" would have to be performed?
An engineer must perform this air test when: Taking charge of engine not coupled to other equipment and originally made up and tested by other than the assigned engineer or
Controlling ends have been changed.
What test could be done in place of a "Light Engine Running Air Brake Test"?
A "Standing Locomotive Air Brake Test" may be performed when the Light Engine Running Air Brake Test is not practical.
What is a
Transfer Train Movement
?
A train making transfer movements not exceeding
20 miles in one direction
.
What is a Class III Brake Test?
Application and Release Test
A "Class III Brake Test" must be performed when:
Test must be conducted when: Any change is made to a locomotive consist, A caboose is changed, Picking up a block of previously tested cars that have not been off air for more than 4 hours, Helper locomotives are added anywhere in the train or removed fro
Who is responsible for performing the necessary air brake tests on a locomotive if inspection forces are not available?
An engineer taking charge of a locomotive.
When must a locomotive consist air brake test be completed?
Making up a locomotive consist, Adding locomotive to a consist, Other than rear locomotive is removed from consist, Locomotive consist is rearranged, or Changing operating ends of a consist.
Locomotive speed indicators must be accurate within how many MPH of actual speed?
�3 MPH at speeds between 10 and 30 MPH.
�5 MPH at speeds above 30 MPH.
Can the air brake system be depended upon to prevent an undesired movement?
No
On a descending grade with slack bunched, where would the hand brakes be applied?
On low end
On a ascending grade with slack stretched, where would the hand brakes be applied?
On high end
What position must retaining valves remain in?
EX, (Exhaust Position)
After applying handbrakes in the proper place, what must be done to verify the hand brake(s) applied will prevent movement?
By releasing all air brakes.
What must be completed if the train, (With Consist Attached), must be secured at other than the terminal or crew change location?
Determine the minimum number of hand brakes required to secure a train.
Secure equipment against undesired movement as outlined in Rule 32.1.1 (Securement
Procedures).
Secure the lead locomotive consist and apply the air brakes as outlined in Rule 32.2.1
What steps must be taken to secure a train that experiences a train separation?
Notify train dispatcher & Mechanical Help Desk.
Immediately secure detached portion(s) using Secondary Securement Procedure.
Close the angle cock on the rear of the cars still attached to the lead locomotive consist.
Recharge the air brake system.
When releasing hand brakes before movement, how many cars must be checked beyond the last applied hand brake?
At least
three additional
hand brakes beyond the last applied hand brake.
What is required to minimize sticking brakes on a car?
The engineer handling the cars to be added must make a full service brake application before angle cocks are opened to prevent an overcharge and minimize the possibility of sticking brakes.
While en route, defective air brake devices are discovered and the brakes do not properly release, what steps must be taken?
Stop the train as soon as possible.
Determine why the brake(s) did not release and correct if possible.
Inspect for: Hand brakes applied, Retaining valve not in EXHAUST, Leak in the air brake system., or a Defective control valve.
Inspect car(s) before de
While en route, defective air brake devices are discovered and the brakes do not properly release. Further, the defective brakes cannot be corrected and you are required to cutout the brakes---Who must be notified?
Train Dispatcher and Mechanical Help Desk
What valve is closed when cutting out brakes to a car?
Branch Pipe Cutout Cock
What are the steps for cutting out the control valves on a defective car?
Close the branch pipe cutout cock.
When cutting out a control valve, drain the air reservoirs completely by operating the brake cylinder release valve.
What is the maximum number of cars with cutout air brake devices that can be placed together in a train?
No more than
two consecutive
air brake devices may be cut-out in a train.
If necessary to cut-out a third consecutive air brake device, separate it from the other two cars with cut-out brakes by at least one car with operative brakes.
Can the rear car have the brakes cutout?
No, because if this car uncouples/separates there is no way of stopping it.
What is required when it is necessary to cutout the air brakes on the rear car?
Set car out at first available location or reposition car in train.
What must be done if wheels have a flat area exceeding
1 inch
?
Report to the proper authority and Mechanical Help Desk.
Equipment must not be moved faster than
10 MPH
and setout at first available point when flat spots:
If wheel has a flat spot more than
2-1/2 inches
long or wheel has adjoining flat spots that are each at least
2 inches long
.
When are angle cocks left partially opened or closed?
Never
, either Fully Open or Fully Closed.
What type of test must be performed on a two-way EOT?
Emergency Application Capability
from the rear of the train.
What angle cock is closed when testing the emergency application on an EOT?
Angle cock ahead of the last car.
How is
bottling the air
avoided?
Leave angle cock open when cars are disconnected.
When must the train's emergency application be initiated by other than the engineer?
When Life or Property in Danger or the Engineer has failed to respond to Warnings/Signals.
What speed do you make couplings of freight cars?
4 MPH
After making a coupling, what must you do?
Stretch slack.
How many types of couplers are there in use on UPRR and how are they different?
Two,
High Capacity (
E-type
) has rounded corners.
Standard (
F-type
) has squared corners.