Canadian Railroads > Order for buffer cars rescinded

Transport Canada has rescinded the order for buffer cars, effective today.  The first HEP train I saw today, Toronto-Windsor #73,  still had two Manor sleepers as buffers, but that train arrived in Toronto from Ottawa as #41 and does not go to the maintenance centre.  Buffer cars had no effect on our enjoyment of corridor trains, but this will be good news to those of us who ride the Canadian.

https://tc.canada.ca/en/rail-transportation/enforcement-action-measures-mitigate-threats-rail-safety/ministerial-orders-emergency-directives/order-under-section-3201-railway-safety-act-mo-23-01

Too bad they had to destroy 4 or 5 cars to determine this.

Posted from Android

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Too bad they had to destroy 4 or 5 cars to
> determine this.
>
> Posted from Android

That's what you do when you walk around scared of your shadow. 

What hazard were dome cars being used to "buffer" against?

Apparently there was suspected degradation in the rebuilt cars and the suspicion that a rear end collision would cause frame failure and additional damage, the general opinion was the directive was to preclude law suits in case of a rear end collison while the issue was being investigated.

Tried to search for the TO post that had a better description, but didn't have the right search word. Here's the original directive from a TO post:

https://tc.canada.ca/en/rail-transportation/enforcement-action-measures-mitigate-threats-rail-safety/ministerial-orders-emergency-directives/order-under-section-3201-railway-safety-act-mo-22-06

They didn't destroy those cars, did they.  I heard that four or five simply received experimental repairs and compression tests.

NPRocky Wrote:
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> They didn't destroy those cars, did they.  I
> heard that four or five simply received
> experimental repairs and compression tests.

At least one car underwent compression testing to the point that the car-body buckled. That was sleeper Chateau Richelieu. Coach 8138 was expected to be subjected to the same compression, and a Park car was also slated to undergo compression testing.

Separately, seven cars were to be torn down to essentially a shell. Four known ones are sleeper Chateau Rouville, dining car Alexandra, club-galley 4006, and RDC-2 6208. They were to be followed by a Park car, a Manor sleeper and a baggage car.  Whether any of these will be restored to serviceable condition is an open question at this stage.

For a summary of preliminary results (before all testing was completed), see this report by the person who obtained the info through an Access to Information request: http://tracksidetreasure.blogspot.com/2023/04/testing-vias-hep-fleet-results-are-in.html
 

engineerinvirginia Wrote:
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> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Too bad they had to destroy 4 or 5 cars to
> > determine this.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> That's what you do when you walk around scared of
> your shadow. 

One has to consider the politics involved in this situation.

Structural issues were discovered with one of the HEP-2 coaches during the rebuild programme in Québec.  That programme was abruptly halted.  If the government ignored this and a collision later occurred you can be sure that questions would be asked in the "house." The leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition would be calling for heads to roll.

NPRocky Wrote:
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> They didn't destroy those cars, did they.  I
> heard that four or five simply received
> experimental repairs and compression tests.


Well just like car crash testing how would they know without causing at least major damage to them the falure point of the car?

Classic gummit over reach or CYA as you prefer.  Your taxpayer dollars hard at rest. Ross Rowland