Steam & Excursion > IAIS requests FRA waiver to extend inspection deadline

Excerpts from the Federal Register posting of 4/14/21:

"...on February 25, 2021, Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 230, Steam Locomotive Inspection and Maintenance Standards. FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2021-0030.

Specifically, IAIS requests relief for its steam locomotive IAIS 6988, from 49 CFR 230.17(a), One thousand four hundred seventy-two (1472) service day inspection, to extend the 1472 service day inspection (SDI) 106 calendar days from September 5, 2021, to December 20, 2021, if coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions are reduced to permit servicing and operation. If COVID-19 restrictions are not lifted, and operation is limited or not permitted in 2021, IAIS requests an extension of the 1472 SDI until December 20, 2022, a total of 471 calendar days.

IAIS states that the COVID-19 public health emergency has caused IAIS to halt excursion service, which resulted in IAIS 6988 only accumulating one service day since its 2020 annual inspection. IAIS anticipates operating IAIS 6988 for about 40 service days in 2021...."

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/14/2021-07653/petition-for-waiver-of-compliance

IAIS 6988 as seen at the July 2011 Trainfest at Rock Island.

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I like the handrail to access the sand box lids😃

W.

 

Interesting on the ~40 days of service this year.  I wonder what Mr. Posner has planned the summer/fall?

Probably more of the local fire department benefit trips........it is worthwhile and benefits the railroad because they call on these same fire departments for help from time to time.

The headlight changes sure helped the looks of that engine.

tomstp Wrote:
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> The headlight changes sure helped the looks of
> that engine.

Needs ditch lights....i don't care a whit about how it was built...only that it could be used for revenue in the modern day....

engineerinvirginia Wrote:
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> tomstp Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The headlight changes sure helped the looks of
> > that engine.
>
> Needs ditch lights....i don't care a whit about
> how it was built...only that it could be used for
> revenue in the modern day....

For what it's worth, steam locomotives are exempt from the ditch light requirement, according to the FRA. For example, none of the UP steam locomotives have ditch lights, nor does SP 4449, nor does SP&S 700, nor does Santa Fe 3751, nor does NKP 765, etc., etc., etc..

HotWater Wrote:
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> engineerinvirginia Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > tomstp Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > The headlight changes sure helped the looks
> of
> > > that engine.
> >
> > Needs ditch lights....i don't care a whit about
> > how it was built...only that it could be used
> for
> > revenue in the modern day....
>
> For what it's worth, steam locomotives are exempt
> from the ditch light requirement, according to the
> FRA. For example, none of the UP steam locomotives
> have ditch lights, nor does SP 4449, nor does SP&S
> 700, nor does Santa Fe 3751, nor does NKP 765,
> etc., etc., etc..

The reference you're looking for is 49 CFR 229.125 (h) Any locomotive subject to Part 229, that was built before December 31, 1948, and that is not used regularly in commuter or intercity passenger service, shall be considered historic equipment and exempted from the requirements of paragraphs (d) through (h) of this section.

So while SP 4449 and UP 4014 are exempt, the IAIS locomotive is not because it was built long after December 31, 1948.
An early E Unit or a PA would need ditchlights either but would probably use them to keep their insurance carrier happy.

tomstp said, "The headlight changes sure helped the looks of that engine."

I think that the best thing done to improve the looks of the locomotive was painting over all of the "Chinese Rys red" with black! 

NKP779 Wrote:
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> Probably more of the local fire department benefit
> trips........it is worthwhile and benefits the
> railroad because they call on these same fire
> departments for help from time to time.

The fire department trips bring a lot of people and they do some fast running. They do keep the QJ moving right along. 

Rick Z

I hope they are able to run some trips this year since I’m only 1 state away now instead of 1,000+ miles away.

Posted from iPhone

lynnpowell Wrote:
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> tomstp said, "The headlight changes sure helped
> the looks of that engine."
>
> I think that the best thing done to improve the
> looks of the locomotive was painting over all of
> the "Chinese Rys red" with black! 


If they were my toys, I'd keep one original and take the Americanization to the next level with the other. Lose the elephant ears and get a new smokebox front. Maybe shorten that steam/sand dome, but I think it also holds the dry pipe leading to the superheater header so that may not be worth the effort to redesign.

Posted from Android

zoohogger Wrote:
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> The fire department trips bring a lot of people
> and they do some fast running. They do keep the QJ
> moving right along. 
>
> Rick Z

Correct. 45 mph. With the P70's on their mainline, it makes for a sweet ride. I especially enjoyed riding the deadhead moves at speed hanging out of the vestibule right behind the tool car. Bring your safety glasses!

A-1 Wrote:
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> If they were my toys, I'd keep one original and
> take the Americanization to the next level with
> the other. Lose the elephant ears and get a new
> smokebox front. Maybe shorten that steam/sand
> dome, but I think it also holds the dry pipe
> leading to the superheater header so that may not
> be worth the effort to redesign.
>
> Posted from Android

Yes, the steam dome and dry pipe are under the shroud - not much can be done without extensive boiler work.