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New York Times story on F.R.A. and UP
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Working for a railroad, and knowing quite a few of the local inspectors, I can say that it is highly unlikly that these inspectors are letting anything slide. I cannot speek for the people higher up, but on the ground level they are not letting things slide. <br /> <br />As far as fines go, the FRA usually does not give out fines unless something is a blatant violation or a repeat offense. For example, if an inspector looks at an engine and notices an exhaust leak, it will be written up as a defect, meaning that the engine cannot be used until the exhaust leak is fixed. The only time a fine would come in to play is if the same engine had the same exhaust leak the next time the inspector looked at it. <br /> <br />Most of the inspectors are pretty good people. Most of them will take the time to explain the defective conditions, why it is a defective condition, and how to fix it. Almost all of them will answer questions about unclear issues, and not hold it against you. <br /> <br />And don't believe that it is rare for an inspector to find a defect. They will always find something. Always. I once had a MP&E inspector write up an engine that was in the shop for the conditions I told him it was in the shop to repair. They always find something. They will keep looking until they find something. And for those who are not railroaders anything can be a defect. Light bulb burned out in the unused nose of a locomotive, knuckle that does not completly open when the cut lever is raised, a hinge broken on an electrical cabinet door, the edge of a step not painted in a contrasting color, all of these are FRA defects. It is not just major stuff these guys find. Most of the time it is things like those listed above. And when they find them, you just smile, fix it, and thank them for finding it in the first place.
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