TM 55-203
refrigerator cars will be inspected for the following:
empty), etc., as applicable. Flame torches will not be
(1) Assure doors open and close without
used in inspecting cars. Only electric, gas, or kerosene
jamming or difficulty, and that when closed, they are
lamps, with glass reflectors, are authorized.
The
weathertight and capable of being secured against
procedures next discussed are applicable to all types of
cars; items pertinent to specific types of cars are
discussed separately. (These same procedures are
(2)
Roofs and sides do not leak.
applicable to the periodic maintenance inspections of
military owned rolling stock made by Army maintenance
(3) Insides will be inspected to determine
personnel.)
for which ladings the car is not suitable (e.g, flour or
sugar should not be placed in a leaky boxcar).
b.
General Inspections. Car inspector will
check over all cars just received in the yard or
(4) Doors, hatches, and other openings of
installation as follows:
refrigerator cars will be inspected to insure tightness to
fit; floors, roofs, and walls will be checked for air or
water leaks. Bunkers will be examined for leaks.
pin, coupler body, and carrying iron for cracks, wear, or
other defects. Height should be checked with coupler
(5) Heating, ventilating, and refrigerating
gage, or in relation to another coupler.
equipment and appliances will be inspected for
malfunctions or defects.
(2) Draft gears. Check for broken or
missing cross keys, cotter keys, loose or broken rivets,
d.
Open-Top Cars.
The complete
broken draft spring.
inspection of these cars includes the additional items
peculiar to the type of car. These items include stake
(3) Safety appliances. Check condition of
pockets on flatcars, end gates, bottom and side doors (if
brake wheels, brake chains, grab irons, ladders, brake
provided) on gondolas; hopper mechanism, drop-bottom
steps, etc.
doors, etc., on hopper cars, and pneumatic equipment
on dump cars.
(4) Underframes.
Inspect for bent,
broken, or loose body bolster center plates and broken
e.
Tank Cars.
When inspected under
or missing side bearings Check sills for cracks -or
load, all parts of the cistern will be examined for leaks
brakes. Tap nuts and rivets with hammer.
and discharge valve checked to see that it is watertight.
Leaky tank cars "will be repaired before further
(5) Car trucks. Inspect for cracked or
movement, or the load transferred to another car.
broken side frames, missing or broken bolster springs,
Inspections will include dome covers, dome valves, and
broken brake lever brackets, damaged center castings
heater coils (if used).
or center pins; inspect brake rigging for worn
brakeshoes (replace 1/2 inch or less thick) broken brake
16-5. Inspection Procedures--Passenger Cars
hangers, brake rods, missing brake lever pins, or cotter
a.
General The inspection of passenger
keys.
equipment is similar in many respects to freight cars.
The inspection of couplers, draft gear, underframes,
(6) Car wheels. Inspect wheels for slid
trucks, and wheels generally are the same. Since
flats; shelled spots; brake burns; cracked, broken, or
passenger cars carry human cargo, inspections must be
worn flanges; broken rims; bent axles; wheels loose on
complete and thorough and include other items peculiar
axle, etc.
to passenger equipment such as steam lines, steam
hose connections, signal lines, signal valves,
(7) Journal boxes Inspect journals by
generators, batteries, motors, refrigerating equipment,
raising the box lid and, through visual inspection and by
water pipes, and the various heat, light, water and air
use of the packing hook, assure that journal bearings
conditioning controls.
and wedges are in good condition and in place, that the
packing is placed properly against the journal, and that
b.
General Inspections. In addition to the
there is sufficient oil.
inspections prescribed in paragraph 16-4 for freight cars,
the following items found only on passenger equipment
(8) Superstructure. Inspect end and side
will be inspected when passenger trains arrive at
ladders, corner and end posts, brake shaft, siding,
terminals where inspectors are located or when
striking castings, uncoupling levers, etc.
passenger cars are assembled to make up a train.
(9) Tightness check. Tap all nuts with
inspector's hammer to check for tightness.
c.
Closed Cars. Car doors of box and
16-3
Previous Page
