In this issue, Forrest Becht recounted his experience as a Santa Fe management trainee assigned to the office of the General Car Inspector (GCI), which was responsible for maintenance of the Santa Fe’s freight car fleet. As part of that article, he outlined how the Santa Fe and other railroads used the Association of American Railroads (AAR) Field Manual to bill for repairs required to keep the rail car fleet operating correctly. Forrest supplied several example pages from the Field Manual, which are set forth here.
First, some images of the Field Manual itself to help orient you to its scope and coverage.
Front cover of the FIELD MANUAL OF THE AAR INTERCHANGE RULES
First page in the Field Manual. Shows the applicable rules, as well as the Job Code ranges, for particular components.
Sample page following the Table of Contents Page 1. Continues the listing of components, applicable rule, job code grouping and page number where the component(s) with the details will be found.
The following images give an example of how you would use the AAR Field Manual to identify repairs to the brake system. The first image shows the principal components of the system. The second image shows the distinction between the service and emergency components of the brake system. The third image shows the modern bar code used to track information about the brake system for billing and repair purposes. The fourth image shows the level of detail that the AAR Field Manual may provide to assist car inspectors with understanding when a piece of equipment may be passed or must be condemned and repaired or replaced.
Sample page showing the detailed amount of the specifications which are required for a particular piece of freight car component.
Sample page showing drawings of a couple of different brake valves. In this case an “AB” Valve and an “ABC-1” Valve. This sample page shows that different “models” of brake valves are needed for different types of freight equipment or newer model of brake valve as opposed to an older model. Both of which may still be service and usable. This situation may apply of other freight car components as well.
Sample page showing the bar codes of different brake valves. Reflects clearly that the railroads are operating in today’s technology.
Sample page showing the condition of train line hoses and detailing when it hsould be replaced and when replacemnt is not necessary.
Finally, Forrest Becht shared examples of “Bad Order” tags used to help route equipment requiring repair back to its Home Road. We appreciate his sharing these details of Santa Fe Railway operation. While some of the practices have changed (for example, the use of bar codes), the basic practice is still similar in practice to the period which Forrest discusses in his article.
Sample page showing Form C small Home Shop Tag typically used in the trainyard. The tag is for foreign cars moving home for repairs on their own wheels per the provisions of the AAR Interchange Rules. They must be applied to each side of the car.
Sample page showing Form C large Home Shop Tag typically used in when the car is in a repair facility. The tag is for foreign cars moving home for repairs on their own wheels per the provisions of the AAR Interchange Rules. They must be applied to each side of the car. NOTE: The tag is iridescent . The size of the tag is approximatley 11 1/2″ X 18″
