Private and Foreign Marked Car Policies

Union Pacific strives to balance equipment supply and demand to provide the most reliable service product possible. One key measure of system health is the number of cars moving on our railroad. In addition to balancing the number of cars UP brings to the network, it's critical that we build the right processes for balancing the number of private and foreign cars.

The following outlines policies concerning private- and foreign-marked equipment. These policies follow the Official Railway Equipment Register. Information for ordering a copy is available from 1-888-215-6084 or customerservice@cbizmedia.com.

These policies apply when UP is the originating carrier. Contact your UP representative with questions.

Requests to Supply Private or Foreign Marked Equipment

A. Private Equipment

  1. Prior to entering into any arrangement to acquire private-marked equipment, customers should discuss the opportunity with their UP representative.
  2. The customer must submit an OT-5 application to the originating carrier requesting approval for shipper-provided cars prior to the cars being moved online.
  3. UP has the right to deny the OT-5 application. For covered hopper cars, the reasons for denial are safety, mechanical factors or inadequate customer storage space.
  4. UP may, at any time, require customers to store their private cars or move them offline at the customer's expense.
  5. OT-5 approval is not required for Tank Cars, however, registration and mark assignment must be attained. Please see Circular No. OT-5 in the Official Railway Equipment Register for policies concerning this equipment type.
  6. If private marked cars have a load capacity of 286,000 pounds Gross Weight on Rail (GWR), drawings and specifications of the cars should accompany the OT-5 at the time it is submitted (see MECHANICAL & ENGINEERING REQUIREMENTS below)
  7. See additional information on OT-5's (PDF File) .

B. Foreign Marked Equipment (ie. equipment bearing reporting marks of a railroad which is not part of the UP system)

  1. Prior to entering into any arrangement to acquire foreign marked equipment, discuss the opportunity with your UP representative.
  2. UP is not required to use foreign marked cars.  In the absence of an agreement with a customer to use foreign marked cars, UP may refuse to place foreign marked cars for loading and may return them to the railroad whose marks appear on the cars.
  3. If the cars have a railroad's markings, request for their assignment should be under the provisions of Car Service Rule 16. Make that request via your UP Car Management Representative.
  4. See additional information on Car Service Rule 16 (PDF File) .

C. OT-5 Registration

OT-5's can be created and submitted to Union Pacific via the Web at www.railinc.com/ot5.

Mechanical and Engineering Requirements

The following covers Union Pacific's Mechanical and Engineering Services' equipment recommendations. 

A. Mechanical Requirements

  1. Greater than 268,000 GWR of any car type:

    1. Cars are approved by the AAR per Specification S-286 or

    2. Cars are approved by the AAR per Specification S-259 and the following are met:

      1. Cars must be equipped with constant contact side bearings, preferably long travel

      2. Cars must be equipped with truck bolsters designed and manufactured for 286,000 pound GWR and must be substantiated by one of the following:

        1. Truck bolsters are to be manufactured in 1995 or later

        2. Confirmation in writing by the truck bolster manufacturer that the subject castings are designed for 286,000 pounds GWR.
        3. Engineering analysis by an independent engineering firm to confirm truck bolster design is capable of sustaining 286,000 pounds GWR.
  2. Coal cars with a GWR capacity greater than 268,000 pounds are to have wheels ultrasonically tested per current AAR specification if bearing mount dates are prior to January 1, 2002.

  3. Flat Cars of any Type and Capacity must be equipped with constant contact side bearings, preferably long travel.

  4. Tank Cars with a GWR greater than 268,000 pounds must meet the following criteria:

    1. Tank cars greater than 268,000 pounds GWR, built prior to implementation of S-259 on July 25, 1997, must be equipped with:

      1. 7 x 12 axle/bearing rated trucks for 315,000 pounds GWR designed cars

      2. Multiple 6-1/2 x 12 axle/bearing rated trucks for 263,000 GWR designed cars
    2. Group A Cars - New cars built between July 25, 1997 and December 31, 2003, which meet M-1001 Specification S-259 and M-1002 Chapter 1.3.16. These cars are restricted interchange cars.  To operate on Union Pacific the cars should meet the following criteria:

      1. Approval from all handling railroads

      2. DOT/TC cars require a DOT Exemption
      3. Existing car upgrades above 263,000 lbs are not allowed, except where increase in weight is solely for the protection of the product
      4. Cars must be registered in UMLER with the appropriate Star Code
      5. Cars should be equipped with truck castings manufactured in 1995 and thereafter that are designed and tested to 286,000 pounds GWR
      6. Trucks are to be of a variable damp design capable of 286,000 pounds GWR 
      7. Cars should have long travel steel capped constant contact side bearings
      8. Wheels should meet "1-10-03 UPRR Wheel Performance Specification" for Class A or Class B wheel sets at time of construction and for maintenance
      9. Turned wheels are not acceptable
      10. Be in conformance with AAR Office Manual Rule 88, Section C.3 and all aspects of AAR Standard S-259
      11. Cars stenciled AAR 204W or 206W are not acceptable

    3. Group B Cars - New cars built after December 31, 2003, which meet AAR M-100 Specifications S-286 and M-976 and AAR M-1002 Chapters 1.3.16 and 2.5.  To operate on the Union Pacific the cars are considered to be unrestricted interchange cars but should meet the following criteria:

      1. DOT/TC cars require a DOT Exemption to operate
      2. Cars should be registered in UMLER with appropriate Star Code
      3. Trucks should have preliminary, conditional or full approval per M-1001 Specification M-976 Truck Performance Specification for Rail Cars
      4. Cars should have steel capped long travel constant contact side bearings
      5. Wheels should meet "1-10-03 UPRR Wheel Performance Specification" for Class A or Class B wheel sets at time of construction and for maintenance
      6. Turned wheels are not acceptable
      7. Axles to be 6-1/2 x 9 "K+" Type for greater than 263, 000 GWR cars
      8. Be in conformance with AAR Office Manual Rule 88, Section C.3 and all aspects of AAR Standard S-286 and M-976 and M-1002 Chapters 1.3.16 and 2.5
      9. Cars stenciled AAR 204W or 206W are not acceptable
  1. For privately-owned tanks or hopper cars used on the Union Pacific:

    1. Cars should be equipped with an approved "GEAPS" gate. Gravity or Gravity Pneumatic gates that have good seals to prevent any leakage.

    2. Gates are to meet the "GEAPS" standards (AAR S233 specs).

    3. Cars are to have gates that have effective seals to prevent any leakage.

    4. Cars must have effective gates gate locking assemblies.

    5. The customer must maintain the gates, locking assemblies and seals to insure they are in good working order.

    6. If a car is found to be leaking product, the producer will be assessed charges per UP Tariff 6004, Item 100.

    7. Leaking cars will be sent to a shop, at the customer's expense, unless otherwise notified.

    8. Car will be taken out of service until they again meets UP's standards per AAR Interchange Rules - Rule 1.