RPCA Annual Conference 2020 Umler and More

RPCA Annual Conference 2020 Umler and More

RPCA Annual Conference 2020 Umler
Agenda Who is going to step up and replace us Contacting RPCNB Summary of last year Recent updates in Umler What we’ve learned about PTC What we’ve learned about PSR What can reduce car/loco movement issues

Who Is Going to Replace Us? MORE than a 10 minute a day job Will take time to learn Needs to work well with computers Needs to understand what the rail hardware data represents Needs to be fastidious, and sometimes hard ass To be effective needs to be able to work with AAR/Railinc, Federal Agencies, Class 1 Regional and Shortline RRs and private owners Fun part is in this position, you “own” all the rolling stock!

Contacting RPCNB Receiving large number of spam phone calls We don’t answer numbers we don’t recognize without caller ID If it is NOT urgent, not text message Same ID issue with text messages, getting lots of garbage Don’t use phone number for sender ID in s Need to ID yourself for us to answer phone Make sure your caller ID is enabled If we don’t answer immediately leave message If it is really important call cell phone

RPCNB Contacting You PLEASE make sure we have your current correct contact info Street or POBox address Phone number address please make sure we don’t go in your spam file All RPCNB s are from IT IS YOUR responsibility to keep us aware on your information

Summary of 2019 Registrations Started 2019: 114 Highest: 147 Ended 2019: 140 Number of total PSGR cars accessible: over 300 1Jan19/20 RPCX PSGR cars in conflict: 52/0 Locos in conflict: 6/0 2 cabeese & 1 gon in conflict due to stripey-stuff 49 ABTs 2018, 33 in 2019; 9 CATs 2018, 9 in 2019, total 1230 RPCNB is solvent CATs need to send in their re-certs! Send photo of your car to add to the data base!

Laws, Regulations and Rules There is a BIG legal difference between them For us, there really isn’t much difference, its their ball field Except maybe some of the class 1 rules can’t be broken, but can be bent now and then

Laws, Regulations and Rules (continued) Documentation of certifications: Air technician or engineer, conductor, track inspector, etc. needs to have a ‘letter’ in the local file that the responsible party in the organization has reviewed the training for certified personnel and that training has been determined to be appropriate for the operation’s needs. RPCNB has 2! One for PABCO air tech training one for owner provided Amtrak air tests signed and dated by Amtrak personnel or PV inspector

Laws, Regulations and Rules (continued) Issue of RR personnel demanding passenger cars be in OT-5 seems to be resolved Issue of RR personnel demanding passenger and MoW cars and locos be sent to scrap due to Umler “drop dead” date seems to be resolved, temporarily Is this over? Don’t count on it! Still poor training for newbies Now OT-57 ahead.

RPCA Annual Conference 2019 Umler Part One
Laws, Regulations and Rules (continued) There is a difference in the terms “restricted IN interchange” and “restricted FROM interchange” Restricted IN interchange means a car or loco has excess clearances or load and must be handled only on appropriate routes, i.e. the number of routes is restricted or limited Restricted FROM interchange means a RR can’t move it without other authorizations (FRA waiver and RR permission) Unfortunately tends to get used indiscriminately Unfortunately gets incorrectly applied to PSGR, locos and MoW

Weight, Reflectorization and Air Date Upload Process All 3rd party input are now via Railinc’s “Inspection” portal All require similar data: Who is reporting, who did the work, where the work was done (SPLIC code), date work was done month/day/year 4 digits Weight requires also: Tare, Load and Gross weights in pounds Whether actual, estimated or calculated, date (mm/dd/yyyy), S code Weight fields were put in Umler on Dec 2018, and are now active and MANDATORY Weight calculator using Amtrak standards on RPCNB web site! Load minimum is 2500 pounds!

Weight and Air Date Upload Process (continued) RPCNB shop code is to support the RPCA member shops and technicians Use of that shop code requires only RPCA membership in good standing and signing an agreement with RPCNB RPCNB accepts the dated and signed air test reports from the RPCNB Certified Air Technicians (CAT). An owner may provide a clear copy of an air test performed by an Amtrak private car inspector on the Amtrak PC form for a current Amtrak approved passenger car signed and dated by that technician

Weight and Air Date Upload Process (continued) Use of this shop code could be expanded to weighing Issue is limited number and location of scales passenger cars could be weighed on properly and inexpensively Car owners with access to host RR weigh in motion scales can request weights from that source Only 3 RPCA member entities have ID’d themselves as having weighing capability Gateway in Madison, IL M&E RR in Morristown, NJ Wayne Yetter, CA

Weights Cars now must have tare, load and gross JDI, Just Do It Loco issue requested change in September Field A115 is “Weight on Drivers” Not all axles powered: FL9, new EMDs with B1-1B trucks, GE A1A-A1A, steam locos Steam worst case, e.g. 14 axles, 4 powered, gross is 3-10x the weight on drivers AND published steam data was 2/3 fuel and water! How to calculate stopping distance if heaviest thing in consist inaccurate weight?

Plate Codes Review Cars are now A,B,C,E,F,G,H,J and K (20’3”) AAR ‘A’ is NOT Amtrak ‘A’ meaning clear for Grand Central AAR ‘A’ is for wider than standard gondola Locos are now B,C and L and M (16’3”) L & M are for new larger locos L is already obsolete! Selecting the wrong plate code for the true dimensions will cause an Umler error! Yet clearance plate code is not a required field AAR ‘A’ is for wider than normal older gondola

Umler Registration Renewal Renewing your registration is due by 1 July! July and August are the grace periods, NOT September & October Put July 1 on your refrigerator & computer calendars so that we don’t have to delete your rolling stock! We publish at least 4 months of reminding subscribers to renew in the newsletter! NO EXCUSE for missing renewal date unless something has happened, then or call, we will work with you If you don’t let us know there is a problem which we can help with, your equipment gets deleted.

Umler Registration Review If you have a LOA with RPCNB or anyone LOA renewal MUST be answered within 2 weeks If not, LOA is terminated by Railinc If terminated, must start all over to generate a new one Admin RPCNB recommends someone in group be admin RPCNB should be also in order to set up ticklers and other notice systems

If you sell your car or loco!! People are forgetting to notify us AAR rules are reporting mark identifies owner This puts RPCNB and RPCA at significant risk If your car or loco causes a problem after you’ve sold it, you are still liable because you didn’t notify us and you are still under contract!

If you buy a car or loco!! Equipment in Umler conflict can NOT be cloned or re-stenciled Seller needs to get equipment conflicts corrected, buyer can’t No class one will touch any equipment not properly in Umler Check for liens other encumbrances In Sept had a who’s on first high tempo experience Class 1 sold a loco Two different parties claim was theirs One party already had re-stenciled it Other party sold it to another party yet!

If you buy a car or loco!! (continued) After a few hours with help from class 1 original owner got it settled, but was an active couple of hours! Do yourself a favor, ask RPNCB to check the Umler record for anything you are thinking of buying Simple response of yes or no it is in, if yes, does or does not have errors: $10 per car/loco Send copy of Umler record and description of what is wrong if any: $25 per car/loco

If you change your company name!! This is an internal change for RPCNB, but you need to notify us, get a new insurance certificate, and sign a new contract. Same goes for anyone personally owns car and changes name because of marriage or divorce or….

Groups: if you change your authorized personnel!! This is an internal change for RPCNB, but you need to notify us of who is the authorized person directing your RPCNB activities, and sign a new contract.

If you lease your car or loco AAR rules state the mark assignee is the owner If you allow a lessee to change the mark, repaint/rename/number the car, who is the legally recognized owner? If anything happens to lessee, will you get your car/loco back? There are multiple data fields in Umler for ownership and lessee 2 owner fields 1 maintainer field 1 lessee field If you allow lessee to remark car/loco, DEMAND that prior mark & RPCX number be input and owner field has your mark in it with lessee field having theirs

2020 is here! There may be people wanting to lease cars for campaign trains If Amtrak extra, all cars need to be fully Amtrak compliant Need to make sure you are appropriately insured by organizer Need to make sure every car Umler record is correct Tech data Air date, and not due during trip Data must match Amtrak or call, we’ll check record for any RPCA member owner or organizer $10 for simple yes or no and status per car; $25 for complete record per car

Umler Dec 2018; Mar, Sep & Dec 2019 Major Updates: New Data Specification Manuals (latest is December ) 11 changes in Locos, more makers of safety hardware added Since added more car health fields, choices increase in freight car fields NEW OT5 requirements! We do have some freight cars that fall into this! DON’T FORGET: Locos that have not input the new mandatory data fields have been subject to deletion! Even though new fields are PTC oriented, they are mandatory to input Passenger car weights are now MANDATORY If you don’t want Umler to drop them, get the data input!

Dec 2019 OT-57 Loading Authority Update replaces OT-5: Becomes mandatory 2 Feb 2020 The storage location detail is required for each Loading Location logged on the Loading Authority (OT-57) application. The Storage Location should list the facility for equipment storage, specifically the company name, the contact person(s) name, and phone number at the company listed, and the capacity of equipment that the specific location can accommodate. SCAC, FSAC, or CIF records

Umler Data Fields Passenger cars 116, 14 of which are MANDATORY Locos 260, 41 of which are MANDATORY If you think pax cars is bad, you should see tank cars! And then other system software besides Umler! Mandatory fields: When inputting new record or re-stencil, if acceptable data not included, computer won’t accept input If already in system, starts 120 day process to be deleted from system RPCNB has some more fields mandatory so that we can positively identify owner and car/loco Tank cars: 180 fields 35 mandatory

Umler Data Fields (continued) Critical components now require CID input This includes all hardware with CID markings: Axles Bearings Wheels Couplers Draft gear Brake valves Tank car safety appliances Even when installed on passenger cars!! Tank cars: 180 fields 35 mandatory

Umler Data Fields (continued) CID marked parts: Shop/service installing should photo & provide data to owner CATs should do likewise and report with air date upload request Owners need to maintain records of critical components installed RPCX cars that means RPCNB needs those records also! Applies to all freight, passenger, MoW and locos!! Tank cars: 180 fields 35 mandatory

Car Tracking Because of PSR, more important than ever your passenger car and loco moves be tracked! RPCNB may be the “owner” per AAR rules, but we didn’t submit the waybill, therefore don’t have tracing access You as shipper can get access, but you need to know how to use it RRs don’t have the staff to hold your hand RPCNB could acquire “Railsight” system, but will raise subscription costs to pay for it

Car Tracking (continued) If you don’t know how to track, get someone who does Railmove LLC is an expert at it and a RPCA member So is Batavia & Ohio Don’t let their cost/hour scare you. A well set up move takes little chargeable time A poorly set up move resulting in a lost car or loco costs a lot to find and re-direct your property if not find it has been damaged at your cost Railroads have lost $3-4 million each new locos moving DIT in their own yards from hours up to 2 weeks! RPCNB can arrange 1 stop shopping for AEI tags and movement logistical support.

What else to do to help keep your car from getting refused or lost Check for accurate Umler record before submitting way bill Things happen to records Sometimes data changes for unknown reason Some records even disappear! Drops out of local RR computers after 6 months no moves! New requirements could put the record in conflict A fatal error puts record on path to automatic deletion At least near term, RR will reject way bill until Umler corrected Some RRs now charging extra when way bill rejected Make SURE all stencils on car and Umler MATCH!!!! Date to the day, location, and performer

What else to do to help keep your loco from getting refused or lost Locos must pass inspection Some RRs require owner inspect and provide report PRIOR to way bill!

AEI tags do fail Old tag models average about 5 years from new Old models with hole plug in back now obsolete, replace Multiple re-programming seems to reduce life Newer models last at least 3x as long, but...they still fail Don't worry, the RRs are pleased to charge you AAR rate to replace $175 per tag, and also delays the car's movement, bad if you miss a lease Use permanent marker to put install date on tag, think about replacing third or fourth COT&S

When can private locos lead in PTC Territory? Status Wreck in operational PTC territory on UP ‘reported’ initial finding is freight car had wrong repairs made to brake system that blocked air brake propagation and FRED didn’t respond because was in in blind area, along with poor training. NTSB has not yet filed final report. Lack of current resolution of interoperability issues causes further disruption. Amtrak still fighting to get interoperability for their 3 different systems on freight carriers. Private loco owners need to be thinking about all the safety interactions and training needed to make such operation successful and implement them in the conversion process and generate new operating rules. Superimpose on that Some class 1 loco depts have been stating steam and obsolete diesels can not be made PTC compliant.

What is PSR doing to us? PSR (Precision Scheduled Railroading) is causing MAJOR upheavals in the industry. Many layoffs, lots of brain power lost, lots of experience lost Significant changes in scheduling trains, pickups and set outs NO time allowed for anything not “normal” schedule Longer, heavier trains can make movements hazardous for pax cars 5 locos lashed up front, up to 2 DIT, 11,000 tons plus, 7,200 ft long 3 locos on head end, up to 2 DIT, 2 shoving on rear, 14,000 tons plus, 8,800 ft long Where do you want your pax car in these consists????

What is PSR doing to us? (continued) Pick ups and set outs schedules disrupted Can only do from one direction, means goes past point and has to return on another train, including double ended yards and sidings! Computer specifies very limited days/times for service If gate locked, crews move on don’t call owner to unlock gate Interchanges being changed Changed from a city yard with house/pit to rural intermodal terminal without connection to next RR and without loco inspection capability! If movement is under time constraint, MUST track move If move requires unit facing specific direction, track move

What is PSR doing to us? (continued) Cars leaving Beech Grove have particularly been mis-handled Next slide is a picture of a passenger car that was humped Fortunately, RR was entirely at fault and paid for repairs because car was clearly stenciled and Umler handling instructions properly filled in, BUT tariff doesn’t require them to!!! Owner told had broken coupler knuckle

What is PSR doing to us? (continued)

What is PSR doing to us? (continued) Owner was told that car only had a broken coupler knuckle Drove all the way from upper Wisconsin to Chicago with knuckle Crew claimed PSR did not allow sufficient time to hold car and shove to rest, and did not allow time to shove next car to rest Yard tower and supervisor did nothing to stop humping

Car Owners Should Sit In on CATs Seminar – things you should know

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