3 Critical Defects Found in New Round of Oil-Train Track Inspections

PHOTO: New York officials want to prevent trains carrying crude oil from derailing as this freight train carrying coloring agent for foam insulation did in Orange County May 2 on Norfolk Southern tracks/Montgomery Volunteer Fire Department

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Monday the successful completion of another round of targeted crude oil tank car and rail inspections, including CSX system tracks between Rockland and Ulster counties.

Following a series of out-of-state disasters involving the transport of crude oil by rail, state officials have undertaken the inspections as part of a series of aggressive actions to improve the safety and reliability of the practice.

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This time, inspection teams examined 108 crude oil tank cars, approximately 163 miles of track and 55 switches. Overall, state and federal teams uncovered and addressed three critical defects and 33 non-critical defects.

"Inspections of rail tracks and crude oil tank cars are critical pieces in our efforts to protect the safety and well-being of those who live and work near them," Cuomo said in a prepared statement. "Our vigorous inspection schedule has enabled us to find and quickly address defects in the system and we will continue to follow it to ensure that New Yorkers are kept safe."

Inspection teams from the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration carried out crude oil tanker inspections at the CSX Corporation-owned Selkirk Rail Yard in Selkirk, Albany County. The inspectors also examined CSX mainline track between Milton (Ulster County) and Tappan (Rockland County); between Kingston (Ulster County) and Ravena (Albany County); at the Kingston Railroad Yard (Ulster County); and between Buffalo and Alden (both in Erie County). Canadian Pacific-owned mainline track was examined between Plattsburgh (Clinton County) and Crown Point (Essex County); and between Albany (Albany County) and Mechanicville (Saratoga County).

The inspections focused on track, track hardware and tank car mechanical safety equipment, including wheels, brakes and couplers.

During the inspections, two types of defects are identified: critical and non-critical. Critical defects identify important maintenance issues that must be addressed immediately, but do not necessarily indicate safety lapses. Non-critical rail defects must be repaired within 30 days. All tank car defects must be fixed before the train departs the yard. If that is not possible, the affected car must be pulled from the train to await repair.

Tank Car Inspection Results

• · Selkirk – At the Selkirk Rail Yard in Selkirk, rail equipment inspectors from the Department of Transportation examined 108 crude oil tank cars and found no defects.

Track Inspection Results

• · CSX Mainline Track Inspection – Milton to Tappan – Department of Transportation track inspectors examined approximately 51 miles of track and eight switches along the CSX mainline between Milton and Tappan. They found one critical defect – having a less than allowable guard rail check gauge – which required a temporary speed reduction. They also found five non-critical defects, including loose switch rod bolts, guard rail bolts and switch transition device bolts; fouled ballast; and a missing adjustable rail brace at a switch.
  
  · CSX Mainline Track Inspection – Kingston to Ravena – Federal Railroad Administration track inspectors examined approximately 30 miles of track and two switches along the CSX mainline between Kingston and Ravena, as well as one mile of track at the Kingston Railroad Yard. They found eight non-critical defects, including loose switch rod bolts, switch rods, and guard rail bolts; missing cotter pins; fouled ballast; and switch position indicators that were not clearly visible.
  
  · CSX Mainline Track Inspection –Buffalo to Alden – Department of Transportation inspectors examined approximately 19 miles of track and 31 switches along the CSX mainline between Buffalo and Alden. They found 10 non-critical defects, including loose guard rail bolts, switch transition device bolts, adjustable rail braces and switch rod bolts; an insecure heel of switch; and missing cotter pins.
  
  · CP Mainline Track Inspection – Plattsburgh to Crown Point – Department of Transportation track inspectors examined approximately 42 miles of track and seven switches along the Canadian Pacific mainline track between Plattsburgh and Crown Point. They found one critical defect – a missing bolt at a rail joint – which was repaired. They also found five non-critical defects, including missing rail anchors, an incorrectly installed joint bar and loose rail joints, adjustable braces at a switch and guard separator blocks at a switch.
  
  · CP Mainline Track Inspection – Albany to Mechanicville – Department of Transportation track inspectors examined approximately 20 miles of track and seven switches along the Canadian Pacific mainline track between Albany and Mechanicville. They found one critical defect – an insufficient number of support ties at a rail joint – which was repaired the next day. They also found five non-critical defects, including fouled ballast, missing cotter pins and loose guard rail bolts, bolts on a switch transition device and adjustable rail brace at a switch.