Justice Department and EPA file complaint aganist NS

[Overmod]

You people are ignoring what is likely the most important factor in these 'remanufactured' bearings -- their material and quality make them "500,000" mile or better MTBF... but even multiwear wheels last only a fraction of that, and the bearing components must usually be disassembled to replace the wheels on the axles.

So save the Earl Scheib quality and Asian schadenfreude cracks until we have demonstrated proof of such practices in the industry -- not sayin, after the loose-wheels-on-new-cars fiasco, that there aren't.

[tree68]

From Railway Age:

TTCI R&D, RAILWAY AGE NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE: Roller bearing reconditioning is a common practice in the railroad industry, with 90% of the bearings in revenue service having been through the reconditioning process.

Source:

https://www.railwayage.com/mechanical/freight-cars/laboratory-testing-of-reconditioned-bearings/

 

[Convicted One]

Euclid

I am surprised that these bearings can be re-manufactured.  I wonder if they have manufacturing dates and serial numbers.  I also wonder if the car that had the bearing failure at East Palestine is equipped other bearings that have the same history as the one that failed.  If the car does have bearings with the same history as the one that failed, they should all be removed and analyzed.

And, one must ask "what advantage does a remanufactured component usually offer, that a completely new unit does not?" $$$  

[Euclid]

Regarding the first link posted above, I think this sentence is interesting:

 

“To prevent an explosion, Norfolk Southern vented and burned five rail cars containing vinyl chloride in a flare trench the following day, resulting in additional releases.”

 

There has been other discussion and controversy on-line about the question who formulated and executed the decision to do the controlled burn.  Notice it says that NS did this.  I have yet to see any references indicating whether or not the regulators approved of the vent/burn treatment of the five tank cars of vinyl chloride, either before it was done, or after it was done.  

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Also:  This video reveals that the failed wheel bearing had been re-manufactured in 2011.  I would think that since there is so much at stake with railcar bearings, they would be manufactured according to all the testing and documentation needed to predict their performance.  I have no idea what extent this is being done, but it should leave no questions as to quality issues of metallurgy, machining, finishing, or tolerances. 

 

I am surprised that these bearings can be re-manufactured.  I wonder if they have manufacturing dates and serial numbers.  I also wonder if the car that had the bearing failure at East Palestine is equipped other bearings that have the same history as the one that failed.  If the car does have bearings with the same history as the one that failed, they should all be removed and analyzed.

 

I know they have the remnants of the failed bearing to analyze, but it has suffered massive damage, so it may be hard to follow trends in the history of the failed bearing.   

 

NTSB chair says wheel bearing at center of East Palestine train derailment was refurbished in 2011

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/ntsb-chair-new-details-east-palestine-train-derailment/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Also:  This video reports people doing the testing for chemicals at the East Palestine site have become ill with symptoms similar to those being reported by residents.

 

CDC team studying health impacts of East Palestine train derailment fell ill during investigation

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/cdc-team-sick-east-palestine-ohio-train-derailment/

[Euclid]

Justice Department and EPA File Complaint Against Norfolk Southern for Unlawful Discharge of Pollutants and Hazardous Substances in East Palestine Derailment

 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/justice-department-and-epa-file-complaint-against-norfolk-southern-unlawful-discharge