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2020 AAR April Circular Letters

This notification provides a brief summary of each AAR Circular Letter issued during the prior month. TrinityRail monitors these Circular Letters as they relate to or may impact TrinityRail’s fleet, its customers, its shop network and its manufacturing operations. Circular letters may be viewed in their entirety by accessing the fee-based circular letter library from the Transportation Technology Center Inc. (TTCI) at https://www.aar.org/publications/.

These Circular Letter – Quick Notes are intended to improve accessibility to the users and are not proof of revision to the AAR, MSRP’s, Office or Field Manuals per M-1003 2.3.5.

C-13527
Subject: Implementation of Revised MSRP, Section F – Sensors
Date Issued: April 10, 2020
Date Effective: April 10, 2020
Group: Informational, Locomotive, Manufacturer
Summary:
The Association of American Railroads’ Equipment Health Monitoring Committee (EHMC) is pleased to announce a new edition of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section F, Sensors.

C-13728
Subject: Reminder Circular, Changes to CRB Data Exchange and CRB Procedures Manual Effective
Date Issued: April 10, 2020
Date Effective: July 1, 2020
Group: Car Owner, Repair Shop
Summary:
It is recommended that this information be shared with all Car Repair Billing and IT personnel in your company that work with or are responsible for Car Repair Invoices submitted to and/or received from Railinc’s Data Exchange.

C-13729
Subject: Informational Circular, New CRB Data Exchange Error Code 5Y
Date Issued: April 10, 2020
Date Effective: July 1, 2020
Group: Car Owner, Repair Shop
Summary:
It is recommended that this information be shared with all Car Repair Billing and IT personnel in your company that work with or are responsible for Car Repair Invoices submitted to and/or received from Railinc’s Data Exchange.

C-13530
Subject: Solicitation of Comments, Revisions to CRB Data Exchange Error Codes 2E-2H
Date Issued: April 10, 2020
Date Effective: July 1, 2020
Group: Car Owner, Repair Shop
Summary:
It is recommended that this information be shared with all Car Repair Billing and IT personnel in your company that work with or are responsible for Car Repair Invoices submitted to and/or received from Railinc’s Data Exchange.

C-13531
Subject: Implementation of Revised AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices Section N, Multi-Level Manual
Date Issued: April 14, 2020
Date Effective: April 14, 2020
Group: Car Owner, Manufacturer, Repair Shop, Shipper
Summary:
The Association of American Railroads Specially Equipped Freight Car Committee is pleased to announce a new edition of the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices, Section N, Multi-Level Manual.

CPC-1362
Subject: Implementation of Revisions to MSRP Section C-III, Specification for Tank Cars (M-1002), Appendix B – Certification of Tank Car Facilities (Docket T91.2.4)
Date Issued: April 14, 2020
Date Effective: April 14, 2020
Group: Manufacturer, Repair Shop
Summary:
AAR CPC-1354 published 12/20/2019 was the implementation of Appendix B of M-1002 and as part of that release eliminated the mandatory requirement for AAR M-1002/M-1003 certification to service equipment category C or F for activity codes C4a, C4m, and C5.

CPC-1363
Subject: Notification to Industry on Updated AAR M-1002 Exhibit B-1 and Exhibit B-3a form
Date Issued: April 14, 2020
Date Effective: April 14, 2020
Group: Manufacturer, Repair Shop
Summary:
The purpose of this CPC is to notify the industry that AAR has updated the M-1002 Exhibit B-1 and Exhibit B-3a. These updated forms reflect the final action published within CPC-1362.

CPC-1364
Subject: Notification to Industry on Updated AAR M-1002 Exhibit T-1 Transition M-1002 Appendix B Certification Element Form
Date Issued: April 14, 2020
Date Effective: April 14, 2020
Group: Manufacturer, Repair Shop
Summary:
The purpose of this CPC is to notify the industry that an updated M-1002 Exhibit T-1 form is available for use. This updated form reflects the final action published within CPC-1362. CPC-1351 remains in effect including the instructions and requirements regarding the Exhibit T-1 form. The attached Exhibit T-1 Version 2.0 form supersedes Exhibit T-1 Version 1.0 form published in CPC-1355.

CPC-1365
Subject: Notification on Updates to the AAR Online Application System to Allow Existing Certified M-1003 Facilities, Not Certified to Appendix B of M-1002, to Apply for Initial M-1002 Certification (Docket T91.2.4)
Date Issued: April 14, 2020
Date Effective: April 14, 2020
Group: Manufacturer, Repair Shop
Summary:
The purpose of this CPC is to notify existing M-1003 certified facilities, not certified to Appendix B of M-1002, to apply for initial M-1002 certification through the AAR online application system. There is a tab within the M-1003 certified facility profile titled Certification Options. The certified M-1003 facility will select the link to apply for initial M-1002 certification.

C-13532
Subject: Implementation of Retirement of MSRP Section E, Standard S-4022 – PIPE, OTHER THAN SCHEDULE 80 IRON
Date Issued: April 16, 2020
Date Effective: April 16, 2020
Group: Manufacturer, Repair Shop
Summary:
The purpose of this Circular is to notify the industry of the retirement of MSRP Section E, Standard S-4022 – PIPE, OTHER THAN SCHEDULE 80 IRON The Brake Systems Committee (BSC) and the Equipment Engineering Committee (EEC) have verified through the American Railway Car Institute (ARCI) that there are no cars in service with this type of equipment.

CPC-1356
Subject: Nozzle Inspection of certain ARI-built General Service Tank Cars
Date Issued: April 16, 2020
Date Effective: April 16, 2020
Group: Car Owner, Repair Shop
Summary:
Certain ARI-built general service tank cars require nozzle weld inspection and if necessary, repair. The subject cars were built by ARI-Marmaduke between November 2012 and September 2013. A list of cars subject to this inspection is provided in the attachment. The cars subject to this maintenance advisory have not exhibited commodity leaks or weld failures in service.

C-13535
Subject: Implementation of Revisions to MSRP, Section M, LOCOMOTIVES AND LOCOMOTIVE INTERCHANGE EQUIPMENT: Standard S-5018 – DYNAMIC BRAKING CONTROL
Date Issued: April 20, 2020
Date Effective: April 20, 2020
Group: Locomotive
Summary:
Circular Letter C-13416 was issued September 30, 2019 on behalf of the Locomotive Committee (LC) seeking comments on proposed revisions to S-5018 DYNAMIC BRAKING CONTROL on the main topic of the dynamic brake interlock (DBI) feature in PTC equipped locomotives, what variations, Type-1 and Type-2, to use and how the feature would respond in interchange service. The LC and Operating Practices Committee decide NOT to utilize and disable the DBI feature on PTC equipped locomotives.

C-13534
Subject: Solicitation of Comments on Proposed Revisions to MSRP, Section M, LOCOMOTIVES AND LOCOMOTIVE INTERCHANGE EQUIPMENT: S-591 LocomotiveSystem Integration Operating Display
Date Issued: April 20, 2020
Date Effective: April 20, 2020
Group: Locomotive
Summary:
This Circular letter is soliciting comments on the proposed revisions to the Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP) Section M, LOCOMOTIVES AND LOCOMOTIVE INTERCHANGE EQUIPMENT: S-591 Locomotive System Integration Operating Display as resolution to RESC System Problem Report (SPR) #120.

C-13533
Subject: Implementation of Editorial Revisions to MSRP Section M, Locomotives and Locomotive
Date Issued: April 20, 2020
Date Effective: April 20, 2020
Group: Locomotive
Summary:
The purpose of this circular letter is to notify the industry of the editorial revision to Section M, Locomotives and Locomotive Interchange Equipment, S-580, where the title of paragraph 6.1 has been hyphenated and updated to read as Anti-climbers. The previous version omitted the hyphen and was inconsistent with the Code of Federal Regulations and other occurrences within S-580.

C-13536
Subject: Implementation of Revisions to MSRP Section D, TRUCKS AND TRUCK DETAILS, Specification M-976 Truck Performance for Rail Cars, and Section C Part II, Specification M-1001 Chapter 11. Addition of Traction Ratio Test and associated edits.
Date Issued: April 20, 2020
Date Effective: April 20, 2020
Group: Manufacturer
Summary:
The purpose of this circular letter is to notify the industry of revisions to MSRP Section D, TRUCKS AND TRUCK DETAILS, Specification M-976 Truck Performance for Rail Cars, and to MSRP Section C Part II, DESIGN, FABRICATION, AND CONSTRUCTION OF FREIGHT CARS, Chapter 11, Service-Worthiness Tests and Analyses for New Freight Cars. The revised specifications are attached. Changes are highlighted with change bars.

C-13537
Subject: Announcement – Early Warning System Rewrite & Car Repair Rates Webinars
Date Issued: April 21, 2020
Date Effective: May 1, 2020
Group: Car Owner, Repair Shop
Summary:
The AAR will be hosting webinars to replace the cancelled Town Hall Meeting, originally scheduled for March 26, 2020 to discuss the rewrite of the Early Warning System and changes to the Car Repair Rates to include input from non-Class 1 railroads and Running Repair Agents.

C-13538
Subject: Solicitation of Comments on Proposed Additions to MSRP, Section F – Sensors: Standard S-6102, Wayside Passing Data Format
Date Issued: April 21, 2020
Date Effective: April 21, 2020
Group: Locomotive
Summary:
The Equipment Health Monitoring Committee (EHMC) is releasing this circular to solicit comments for proposed additions to AAR’s Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section F – Sensors: Standard S-6102, Wayside Passing Data Format.

C-13539
Subject: Solicitation of Comments for Revisions to MSRP Section S, CASTING DETAILS, Specification M-220, Casting Component Nondestructive Testing Requirements, Regarding Updates to Inspection Requirements
Date Issued: April 23, 2020
Date Effective: April 23, 2020
Group: Manufacturer, Repair Shop
Summary:
The purpose of this circular letter is to solicit comments for revisions proposed to Section S, Specification M-220, Casting Component Nondestructive Testing Requirements, regarding updates to inspection requirements for knuckles, bolsters, and side frames.

C-13540
Subject: Solicitation of Comments to archive Figures 5-A, 5-B, 12-A, 14, and 55 – Section 5 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Date Issued: April 23, 2020
Date Effective: April 23, 2020
Group: Shipper
Summary:
The purpose of this circular letter is to solicit comments to archive Figures 5-A, 5-B, 12-A, 14, and 55 – Section 5 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR). The AAR’s Open Top Loading Rules Committee (OTLRC) believes these figures are no longer used for load preparation, so there is no value in retaining these figures in the OTLR manual.

C-13541
Subject: Solicitation of Comments to archive Figure 280: PIPE, STEEL, BARE, COATED, OR WRAPPED, 14 IN. TO 72 IN. O.D., 80 FT. LONG, SINGLE PILE, DOUBLE-END OVERHANG-FLATCARS – Section 2 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR.
Date Issued: April 23, 2020
Date Effective: April 23, 2020
Group: Shipper
Summary:
The purpose of this circular letter is to solicit comments to archive Figure 280: PIPE, STEEL, BARE, COATED, OR WRAPPED, 14 IN. TO 72 IN. O.D., 80 FT. LONG, SINGLE PILE, DOUBLE-END OVERHANG-FLATCARS – Section 2 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR).

C-13542
Subject: Solicitation of Comments, Revisions to Field Manual, Rule 41.A, Southern Wheels
Date Issued: April 24, 2020
Date Effective: April 24, 2020
Group: Car Owner
Summary:
At the April 2020 meeting of the Arbitration and Rules Committee a proposal by the WABL Committee to revise Field Manual Rule 41.A, was reviewed and approved.

C-13543
Subject: Solicitation of Comments, Revisions to Field Manual, Rule 126.D, Accident Reports Prepared By Transportation Department
Date Issued: April 24, 2020
Date Effective: April 24, 2020
Group: Information
Summary:
At the April 2020 meeting of the Arbitration and Rules Committee a proposal to remove Field Manual Rule 126.D, was reviewed and approved.

C-13544
Subject: Solicitation of Comments, Revisions to Field Manual, Rule 41.A.3, Wheels
Date Issued: April 24, 2020
Date Effective: April 24, 2020
Group: Information
Summary:
At the April 2020 meeting of the Arbitration and Rules Committee a proposal by the WABL Committee to revise Field Manual Rule 41.A and Appendix A, was reviewed and approved.

CPC-1366
Subject: Tank Car Facility Certification Audits
Date Issued: April 24, 2020
Date Effective: April 24, 2020
Group: Manufacturer, Repair Shop
Summary:
This circular letter announces AAR plans to carefully restart audits and inspections.

C-13545
Subject: Restart of AAR Inspections and Audits
Date Issued: April 24, 2020
Date Effective: April 24, 2020
Group: Manufacturer, Repair Shop
Summary:
This circular letter announces AAR plans to carefully restart audits and inspections.

C-13546
Subject: Solicitation of Comments, Revisions to Field Manual, Rules 3 and 4, 4-Pressure Testing
Date Issued: April 24, 2020
Date Effective: April 24, 2020
Group: Car Owner, Repair Shop
Summary:
At the April 2020 meeting of the Arbitration and Rules Committee a proposal to revise Field Manual Rules 3 and 4 to allow the retrofit of all necessary equipment to perform 4-pressure testing, was reviewed and approved.

C-13547
Subject: IMPLEMENTED. AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section K-III Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging, Standard S-9203.V1.1
Date Issued: April 27, 2020
Date Effective: April 27, 2020
Group: Car Owner, Manufacturer, Shipper, Repair Shop, Locomotive
Summary:
Standard S-9203.V1.1 specifies requirements for the automatic electronic identification of equipment used in rail transportation, such as rail cars, locomotives, intermodal vehicles, and end-of-train devices. The installation of this identification system on freight equipment is not a requirement for acceptance in railroad interchange service, except as specified in the AAR Field Manual of Interchange Rules.

C-13548
Subject: Solicitation of Comments, Revisions to Field Manual, Rules 70, 92 and 95
Date Issued: April 27, 2020
Date Effective: April 27, 2020
Group: Car Owner, Shipper
Summary:
At the October 2019 and April 2020 meetings of the Arbitration and Rules Committee a proposal by the Equipment Engineering Committee to reformat Field Manual Rule 70 and revise Field Manual Rules 92 and 95, was reviewed and approved. The entire text of the revision is identified below.

C-13549
Subject: IMPLEMENTED. AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practices (MSRP), Section K-III Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging, Standard S-9203A.V1.1
Date Issued: April 27, 2020
Date Effective: April 27, 2020
Group: Information
Summary:
Standard S-9203A.V1.1 contains information about the AEI Site-to-Host consist report format developed by cooperating railroads and vendors, otherwise known as “T-94” format. Standard contains the current format, segments and definitions as implemented by the AEI Users Group.

C-13550
Subject: DRAFT Standard S-9361.V3.0 – Positive Train Control Office-Locomotive Segment-Interface Control Document (ICD), is available for review and comment. In support of AAR’s MSRP, Section K-IV, Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging.
Date Issued: April 28, 2020
Date Effective: April 28, 2020
Group: Locomotive
Summary:
The Positive Train Control Committee (PTCC) of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) is publishing DRAFT S-9361.V3.0 – Positive Train Control Office-Locomotive Segment-Interface Control Document (ICD), for review and comment.

C-13551
Subject: DRAFT Standard S-9373.V1.0 – WSRS Requirements, is available for review and comment. In support of AAR’s MSRP, Section K-IV, Office Architecture and Railroad Electronics Messaging
Date Issued: April 29, 2020
Date Effective: April 29, 2020
Group: Information
Summary:
The Positive Train Control Committee (PTCC) of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) is publishing DRAFT S-9373.V1.0 – WSRS Requirements, for review and comment.

C-13552
Subject: Informational Circular, Revisions to Office Manual, Rule 103
Date Issued: April 29, 2020
Date Effective: April 29, 2020
Group: Information
Summary:
At the April 2020 meeting of the Arbitration and Rules Committee, a proposal, as advanced by the Car Repair Billing Committee, to revise Office Manual Rule 103.A and 103.B was reviewed and approved.

C-13553
Subject: Implementation of Revisions to Figures 88-B, 88-F and 91 – Section 6 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Date Issued: April 29, 2020
Date Effective: April 29, 2020
Group: Shipper
Summary:
The AAR’s Open Top Loading Rules Committee (OTLRC) has approved the following revisions to Section 6 OTLR manual for Figures 88-B, 88-F and 91.

C-13554
Subject: Implementation of Revisions to Figures 78-B, 83 and 83-A – Section 6 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Date Issued: April 29, 2020
Date Effective: April 29, 2020
Group: Shipper
Summary:
The AAR’s Open Top Loading Rules Committee (OTLRC) has approved the following revisions to Section 6 OTLR manual for Figures 78-B, 83 and 83-A.

C-13555
Subject: Implementation of Revisions to Figures 58-A, 58-D, 63-B, and 63-C – Section 6 of the AAR Open Top Loading Rules Manual (OTLR)
Date Issued: April 29, 2020
Date Effective: April 29, 2020
Group: Shipper
Summary:
The AAR’s Open Top Loading Rules Committee (OTLRC) has approved the following revisions to Section 6 OTLR manual for Figures 58-A, 58-D, 63-B, and 63-C.

C-13556
Subject: Solicitation of Comments, Revisions to Field Manual, Rule 4, Brake Valves
Date Issued: April 30, 2020
Date Effective: April 30, 2020
Group: Repair Shop
Summary:
At the April 2020 meeting of the Arbitration and Rules Committee a proposal to revise Field Manual Rule 4 and Appendix A to address renewal requirements for brake valves regarding age and cold weather temperatures, was reviewed and approved.

C-13557
Subject: Solicitation of Comments, Revisions to Field Manual, Rule 4, 4-Pressure Receivers
Date Issued: April 30, 2020
Date Effective: April 30, 2020
Group: Repair Shop
Summary:
At the April 2020 meeting of the Arbitration and Rules Committee a proposal to revise Field Manual Rule 4 for 4-pressure receives, was reviewed and approved.

C-13558
Subject: Solicitation of Comments, Revisions to the Car Repair Billing Survey Process
Date Issued: April 30, 2020
Date Effective: April 30, 2020
Group: Informational
Summary:
At the October 2019 and April 2020 meetings of the Arbitration and Rules Committee a proposal to finalize revisions to the Car Repair Billing Survey process, was reviewed and approved.

C-13559
Subject: Solicitation of Comments, Revisions to Field Manual, Rule 88, Office Manual Rule 88, and Appendices A and E – Tank Cars
Date Issued: April 30, 2020
Date Effective: April 30, 2020
Group: Manufacturer, Repair Shop
Summary:
At the April 2020 meeting of the Arbitration and Rules Committee a proposal by the Equipment Engineering Committee to revise Field Manual Rule 88, Office Manual Rule 88, and Appendices A and E, was reviewed and approved.