NEWS

RPCA's participation in the EMIS committee has been exhaustive. This year we have participated in the general weekly meetings as usual. We worked directly with a member from CSX and one from UP to rewrite the diesel loco ("Loco") format, and participated in the presentation to the AAR Loco Committee, where with minor modifications it was accepted.

We remain actively involved in the rewrite of the former Format A into the new PSGR module where all the passenger cars will be transferred to. We are also involved in two new modules, "Other Loco" where everything self powered that is not a traditional diesel electric will go, and a new module that doesn't have a better identification than "Critters", where everything that can't be better classified will go.

We participated in the testing of the new system modules including a couple of RR's giving us access to their files to test! That alone is unprecedented and shows how much RPCA has gained in stature.

We were successful in getting 2 new train service codes to protect passenger cars. We continue to work to get better limitation identification into the new system.

Participation in the Umler re-write committee activity continues. This activity includes twice a week conference calls, and "face to face" meetings with all the participants once a month at the Railinc offices or a railroad or fleet car owner headquarters. The basic requirements have been approved by the committee, and the loco data field changes have been designated by the AAR Loco Committee.

This is an expensive undertaking, with a meeting every month requiring transportation, food and lodging. Locations vary from BNSF in Ft. Worth, to CN in Montreal, CP in Calgary, TTX in Chicago, and UP in Omaha.

We have contacted several organizations that also have vested interests in the outcome of these activities, but they have not to date joined in the participation directly, or offered to support the RPCNB activities thereby protecting their interests.

Continued active participation in these activities is absolutely dependent on finding sufficient funding to continue. The RPCNB fee structure was set up with the intent to minimize the costs to our members. With the number of cars and locos currently in Umler under the RPCNB activities, we can't raise the fees high enough to cover these activities without chasing away our members.

Therefore, some "angels", individuals or corporate, are being sought to help fund the activities so that we can not only be cognizant of the changes, but continue to actively participate in them to protect our vested interests. If you are interested in being one of these "angels", please contact RPCA President Henry Weller.

The changes envisioned to Umler are massive. It is a very significant change from the current system. Some of the parties to this endeavor desire nearly 400 data items per car!

The old "Umler Type Code" is going away. Now, a box car is a box car is a box car. Thankfully, the Class 1 RR's agreed that passenger cars should have their own category, which sailed without objection through the committee. The RPCNB was assigned to work on the passenger car section, which we are doing now. We have already worked up a list of data fields (elements) that are needed by the railroads and by the owners to safely move a car in freight service. This list is being shared with many who have a vested interest in the process for comment, to include RPCA member consultants, Ringling, ME, Marc, UP, GCRY, WMSR.

The summary of this is that if you want to move a car or loco on a Class 1 carrier, you will have it in Umler, it must be of "adequate" detail, it must be AEI tagged, the air date must be in EMIS correctly and completely, or they may refuse the request. Also, if you are running on a regional or a short line, but the move takes you out onto a Class 1 carrier, the move could be refused by the Class 1 if all the equipment, including locos, are not in Umler.

And in the 'new' system, there will be more mandatory fields to be input, with air brake and all regulated inspections reporting just being one example.

This is not just a US requirement. The Canadian commuter agencies and Via are being required to be compliant, because the Class 1 railroads are mandating it including the Canadian carriers. We even know of a company that was trying to ship to diesels to scrap, and were forced to input them to Umler!

We've gotten some answers to the many questions that come out of this. These answers apply to today, tomorrow may be different:

Locos: The AAR Safety, Operations and Maintenance Committee (SOMC) issued a directive that ALL locos must be registered in the Umler File for movement on all Class One railroads. In addition, locos offered in interchange from Class 2 or 3 railroads will not be accepted unless registered in the Umler File.

AEI tags: The application of A.E.I. transponders (tags) on rail equipment is covered under the provisions of S-918, AAR Standards and Recommended Practices. This is a mandatory requirement.

Passenger car registration in Umler: All Class One railroads now require all cars, even MoW equipment, to be registered in Umler for movement. Passenger cars are currently registered under MOW equipment. In the future, passenger cars will have their own equipment type code.

FRA Identifier as a "reporting mark": The Federal Railroad Administration can create company identifiers, however; these identifiers are NOT a reporting mark and therefore can NOT be stenciled on equipment as reporting marks to operate on the General Railway System.

The RPCA team is continuing to check in to this, as well as other regulatory and system mandated matters, and will report on findings as they become available on the RPCA web site, the RPCA Information Exchange, and at the Annual Conferences.

If you are a private car or loco owner, or a short line or regional or excursion railroad, and have not yet registered your car or locomotive in Umler, you now must have this rolling stock registered in Umler to move it over any Class One carrier. It would appear that regional and short line carriers can set their own requirements, at least for now, so if you are a private owner, you need to discuss this with your host railroad as long as you do not attempt to go out on a Class One carrier.

If you are a static museum, i.e. one that does NOT operate anything, you will only have to register any new equipment coming in moving over any Class One carrier.

If you are an operating museum, it is a given if you go out onto Class One carriers that there is no way you can escape putting your equipment into Umler and properly tagging them. If you only operate on a short line or regional, you need to discuss this with your host railroad. But remember, if you want to hit the "high iron" of a Class One carrier, you must register your equipment in Umler and properly tag them. And the exemption about air test certification is null and void on a common carrier!

Cars are already being shopped for AEI tags. If you don't put them on, one of the RR's will. And then you don't have any choice in how they are mounted, so you might have that nice paint job on the side of your car punctured.

Border crossings from Canada or Mexico have become more difficult, but can still be successful.

The cars passed through Customs without a hitch due to a high level of documentation of ownership, ownership transfer, builder and build location, proof that the cars were secured at departure, and the assistance of a bonded Customs Broker at the border .

The Class One Railroads now require transit agencies to have their equipment in Umler even for a transfer move from one agency to another or to and from shops.

Starting 1 Apr 2004 the use of "certified air technicians" is regulated for most passenger operations, with an unclear exception for historical operations. It will also soon be mandatory to include air dates in the Umler files. This is important, because per new AAR rules, the Umler file will soon supercede the stenciled date on the car!

Effective 1 January '04, a new 'consolidated stencil' is required by AAR. There is also a new RP (Recommended Practice) in process from APTA with reference to a new consolidated stencil format for passenger cars covering air brake information and axle bearings/lube. This format does not exactly match the AAR Rule 80 format, but is better for passenger cars and should be considered by any reasonable inspector to meet AAR Rule 80. This new stencil is more complicated than the simple prior format, but you can put it together yourself, or contact GLR for a pair of vinyl stencils you simply apply to the air reservoir(s) or battery box(es) with all required data for your specific car.

News

Latest News

Previous News Items


	News

			Latest News RPCA's participation in the EMIS committee has been exhaustive. This year we have participated in the general weekly meetings as usual. We worked directly with a member from CSX and one from UP to rewrite the diesel loco ("Loco") format, and participated in the presentation to the AAR Loco Committee, where with minor modifications it was accepted. We remain actively involved in the rewrite of the former Format A into the new PSGR module where all the passenger cars will be transferred to. We are also involved in two new modules, "Other Loco" where everything self powered that is not a traditional diesel electric will go, and a new module that doesn't have a better identification than "Critters", where everything that can't be better classified will go. We participated in the testing of the new system modules including a couple of RR's giving us access to their files to test! That alone is unprecedented and shows how much RPCA has gained in stature. We were successful in getting 2 new train service codes to protect passenger cars. We continue to work to get better limitation identification into the new system. EMIS is now on line for air and loco regulated inspection dates. Previous NEWS: Participation in the Umler re-write committee activity continues. This activity includes twice a week conference calls, and "face to face" meetings with all the participants once a month at the Railinc offices or a railroad or fleet car owner headquarters. The basic requirements have been approved by the committee, and the loco data field changes have been designated by the AAR Loco Committee. This is an expensive undertaking, with a meeting every month requiring transportation, food and lodging. Locations vary from BNSF in Ft. Worth, to CN in Montreal, CP in Calgary, TTX in Chicago, and UP in Omaha. We have contacted several organizations that also have vested interests in the outcome of these activities, but they have not to date joined in the participation directly, or offered to support the RPCNB activities thereby protecting their interests. Continued active participation in these activities is absolutely dependent on finding sufficient funding to continue. The RPCNB fee structure was set up with the intent to minimize the costs to our members. With the number of cars and locos currently in Umler under the RPCNB activities, we can't raise the fees high enough to cover these activities without chasing away our members. Therefore, some "angels", individuals or corporate, are being sought to help fund the activities so that we can not only be cognizant of the changes, but continue to actively participate in them to protect our vested interests. If you are interested in being one of these "angels", please contact RPCA President Henry Weller. The changes envisioned to Umler are massive. It is a very significant change from the current system. Some of the parties to this endeavor desire nearly 400 data items per car! The old "Umler Type Code" is going away. Now, a box car is a box car is a box car. Thankfully, the Class 1 RR's agreed that passenger cars should have their own category, which sailed without objection through the committee. The RPCNB was assigned to work on the passenger car section, which we are doing now. We have already worked up a list of data fields (elements) that are needed by the railroads and by the owners to safely move a car in freight service. This list is being shared with many who have a vested interest in the process for comment, to include RPCA member consultants, Ringling, ME, Marc, UP, GCRY, WMSR. The summary of this is that if you want to move a car or loco on a Class 1 carrier, you will have it in Umler, it must be of "adequate" detail, it must be AEI tagged, the air date must be in EMIS correctly and completely, or they may refuse the request. Also, if you are running on a regional or a short line, but the move takes you out onto a Class 1 carrier, the move could be refused by the Class 1 if all the equipment, including locos, are not in Umler. And in the 'new' system, there will be more mandatory fields to be input, with air brake and all regulated inspections reporting just being one example. This is not just a US requirement. The Canadian commuter agencies and Via are being required to be compliant, because the Class 1 railroads are mandating it including the Canadian carriers. We even know of a company that was trying to ship to diesels to scrap, and were forced to input them to Umler! We've gotten some answers to the many questions that come out of this. These answers apply to today, tomorrow may be different: Locos: The AAR Safety, Operations and Maintenance Committee (SOMC) issued a directive that ALL locos must be registered in the Umler File for movement on all Class One railroads. In addition, locos offered in interchange from Class 2 or 3 railroads will not be accepted unless registered in the Umler File. AEI tags: The application of A.E.I. transponders (tags) on rail equipment is covered under the provisions of S-918, AAR Standards and Recommended Practices. This is a mandatory requirement. Passenger car registration in Umler: All Class One railroads now require all cars, even MoW equipment, to be registered in Umler for movement. Passenger cars are currently registered under MOW equipment. In the future, passenger cars will have their own equipment type code. FRA Identifier as a "reporting mark": The Federal Railroad Administration can create company identifiers, however; these identifiers are NOT a reporting mark and therefore can NOT be stenciled on equipment as reporting marks to operate on the General Railway System. The RPCA team is continuing to check in to this, as well as other regulatory and system mandated matters, and will report on findings as they become available on the RPCA web site, the RPCA Information Exchange, and at the Annual Conferences. What does this mean? If you are a private car or loco owner, or a short line or regional or excursion railroad, and have not yet registered your car or locomotive in Umler, you now must have this rolling stock registered in Umler to move it over any Class One carrier. It would appear that regional and short line carriers can set their own requirements, at least for now, so if you are a private owner, you need to discuss this with your host railroad as long as you do not attempt to go out on a Class One carrier. If you are a static museum, i.e. one that does NOT operate anything, you will only have to register any new equipment coming in moving over any Class One carrier. If you are an operating museum, it is a given if you go out onto Class One carriers that there is no way you can escape putting your equipment into Umler and properly tagging them. If you only operate on a short line or regional, you need to discuss this with your host railroad. But remember, if you want to hit the "high iron" of a Class One carrier, you must register your equipment in Umler and properly tag them. And the exemption about air test certification is null and void on a common carrier! Cars are already being shopped for AEI tags. If you don't put them on, one of the RR's will. And then you don't have any choice in how they are mounted, so you might have that nice paint job on the side of your car punctured. Previous News Items Border crossings from Canada or Mexico have become more difficult, but can still be successful. The RPCA member owner of these 2 cars was very successful in getting the cars across from Canada. Because it was clearly documented that they were US built, no duty was paid. The cars passed through Customs without a hitch due to a high level of documentation of ownership, ownership transfer, builder and build location, proof that the cars were secured at departure, and the assistance of a bonded Customs Broker at the border . The Class One Railroads now require transit agencies to have their equipment in Umler even for a transfer move from one agency to another or to and from shops. Starting 1 Apr 2004 the use of "certified air technicians" is regulated for most passenger operations, with an unclear exception for historical operations. It will also soon be mandatory to include air dates in the Umler files. This is important, because per new AAR rules, the Umler file will soon supercede the stenciled date on the car! Effective 1 January '04, a new 'consolidated stencil' is required by AAR. There is also a new RP (Recommended Practice) in process from APTA with reference to a new consolidated stencil format for passenger cars covering air brake information and axle bearings/lube. This format does not exactly match the AAR Rule 80 format, but is better for passenger cars and should be considered by any reasonable inspector to meet AAR Rule 80. This new stencil is more complicated than the simple prior format, but you can put it together yourself, or contact GLR for a pair of vinyl stencils you simply apply to the air reservoir(s) or battery box(es) with all required data for your specific car.