Tragedies Spur Action By Federal Agency
Because of the LPG railroad tank car tragedy in Waverly, Tenn., in February and an anhydrous ammonia tanker incident in Pensacola, Fla., last November, the Federal Railroad Administration is considering speeding up the installation of safety devices on specification 112 and 114 tank cars.
Under a current ruling, specification 112 and 114 tank cars that carry flammable gases must have both thermal and head protection Installed by December 31, 1981. The same type tankers used to haul anhydrous ammonia have to have head protection Installed by the same date. In addition, all such flammable gas and ammonia tank cars must be retrofitted with couplers designed to resist vertical disengagement by July 1, 1979.
The FRA conducted a public inquiry on April 7 to determine whether the retrofitting schedules can be speeded up. Under the original order for improving tank car safety, the length times for installing the safety equipment allowed railroads to do the work as empty tank cars became available.
The National Transportation Safety Board has stated that the special couplers and head shields could be installed by late December of this year if a strong, sustained effort was made.
