TM 55-203
they are in good mechanical condition. This Inspection
servative oil (Type P-10, Grade 2). These cars will also
precludes the receiving railway from accepting
be moved 100 feet or so monthly to distribute the
responsibility for defective equipment and/or damaged
preservative over the journals. Airbrakes also will be
lading that occurred elsewhere.
operated during this exercising as prescribed above.
e.
Repair or Shop Tracks. The inspection
16-3. Inspection Points
of cars on repair or shop tracks involves a careful and
thorough examination of all car details to determine the
a.
General. Railway cars are inspected at
extent of repairs necessary. The kind and quantity of
various places for different reasons. In normal railway
repair material required and the disposition of car for
practice, commercial or military-owned cars are
repairs largely depend on the results of these repair
inspected at terminals and classification yards when
track inspections At railway shops and repair tracks, the
they arrive (in trains); when made up into trains for
class of repairs is determined by the number of man-
forwarding to the next yard; at interchange points when
hours required to make the repairs. Unlike the Army
received from another railway; at loading points; and, at
system, commercial railway repairs are designated light,
various repair or shop tracks On the railways of North
medium, or heavy as follows:
America, Western Europe, or other areas where cars
move freely between different rail lines and different
(1)
Light repairs: labor under 20 hours.
countries, interchange inspection constitutes an
important detail of through traffic movement. The
(2) Medium repairs: labor 2.0 hours to 50
techniques of car inspection and the various inspection
hours.
objectives are discussed in the following paragraphs.
The primary purpose of inspecting railway cars, like
(3) Heavy rep-airs: labor 50 hours or
inspections of any item, is to determine the condition,
over.
suitability for service, extent of any needed repairs, etc
Car inspectors should be technically qualified and
16-4. Inspection Procedures-Freight Cars
should be equipped with inspector's hammer, reflector
lamp (for night use), and packing hook. The specific
a.
General. In classification yards and
general reasons for inspections at the various places
listed in this paragraph are discussed below.
terminals, two car inspectors (one on either side) should
meet each incoming train for a general visual inspection
b.
Receiving and Classification Yards.
of the cars as they roll into the yard. Military installation
inspectors should make similar inspections as drafts of
Cars are inspected on arrival for defects requiring
cars are brought onto the installation from the delivering
immediate attention. Inspection includes draft and
railway interchange track. Wheels that are pounding
running gear and, if the car is loaded, inspection for
(flat spots) or wobbly, or that have broken flanges, can
leaking and for poorly secured or shifted lading. Cars
be spotted as the cars move slowly past the inspectors.
requiring maintenance that cannot be completed on time
Leaking air lines, low or dragging brake rigging,
for the movement of the train will be tagged "bad order"
brakeshoes riding wheels, etc, will be readily visible
These defects are more difficult to detect when cars are
necessary servicing. After trains are made up, cars are
standing still. The train, or draft of cars, should be
again inspected to insure that they are in good condition
stretched when it is stopped with airbrakes applied to
before departure. This involves the inspection and
enable inspectors to more readily detect excessive
testing of airbrakes, a thorough examination of journal
piston travel, weak draft gears, broken yokes and yoke
boxes, and the detection of other possible defects
rivets, worn knuckle locks, wornout draft sills, short
developed during yard switching operations.
brake pipes, defective hose and coupler defects, broken
truck frames, etc. Careful inspection will be made of
c.
Loading Points. At loading points such
each car in the draft or train after they are stopped. Any
as freight stations, industrial plants, military installations,
defects found will be corrected before the car is moved
etc., cars are inspected to insure the suitability of the car
in another train, or car is loaded (if
for the proposed lading; that all loading rules are (or
were) properly observed; and that the lading is loaded,
blocked, braced, or secured for safe movement.
d
Interchange Points. Cars to be received
from connecting lines are inspected to see that they
conform to proper interchange loading and 'safety
appliance rules (AAR and DOT in CONUS) and that
16-2
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