Service Overviews

Mechanical Inspection Process Guidelines

The recent landfall of Hurricane Ike off the central coast of Texas has caused flooding at many Union Pacific and customer or other industry facilities along the Gulf Coast.  In accordance with AAR guidelines, any rail cars that have been damaged must be repaired and inspected prior to movement.

The following guidelines have been established for the inspection of rail cars that have been damaged due to the flooding caused by Hurricane Ike, i.e. Submerged Axle Roller Bearing(s) and/or Air Brake Valve(s) and contaminated commodity:

• Impacted cars will be placed in a mechanical hold status. The subject cars will not be released until repaired by replacing the submerged components.  The cars that are spotted in industries, contract repair shops, and others will not be released until a joint inspection involving the industry, the railroad and the car owner (if they elect to participate in this inspection) verifies that the car has been repaired. Responsibility for the repairs will be in accordance with the AAR Field Manual in effect July 1, 2008. The field manual includes the following:
• Rule 99.2, The non-railroad subscriber in possession will assume responsibility for all cars in its control (on private owner’s track or facility) for loss or damage. The delivering line will be responsible for car repair billing and disposition.
• Rule 99.3, Delivering subscriber will be relieved and owner will assume responsibility for loss or damage due to condition beyond the control of the delivering company, such as fire, explosion or flood, if the car was forwarded to a non-subscriber facility belonging to or leased by the car owner; or where such cars are directed by owner or lessee to a repair facility, storage track or car manufacturing facility.

Union Pacific Contact Information for a Joint Inspection of Rail Cars
Once repairs to an impacted car have been made, please contact a Union Pacific representative in your area to arrange for a joint inspection: