Consolidated Stencil, Stencils for the Lining, Rule 88.B2, PM, Paint, and Brake Shoes

Consolidated stencils or decals are applied to all tank cars. They are located on each side of the tank car at the BL and AR positions.

The consolidated stencil shown here consists of:
  • ABDW/ABD- This is the type of air brake triple valve that our tank car is equipped with.

    ABDW
    ABD
  • LUB - This tank car has roller bearing trucks that do not need lubrication.

    NO
  • BUILT 8-79 - This was the year the tank car was built. To extend the useful life of a tank car, the tank car may be rebuilt. If the tank car had been rebuilt, this date would have been stenciled here as well.

    To meet the rebuilt criteria, it is necessary to spend more than one-half the tank car's replacement cost on repairs. This spending criteria discourages many rebuilding plans.

    BUILT 8-79

    Tank cars have a limited service life and must be taken out of service at the end of their service life. The service life of tank cars is as follows:
  • Tank cars built on or after 7/1/74 are limited to (50) fifty years of service. The tank cars must be taken out of service on December 31st of their 50th year.
  • Tank cars built prior to 7/1/74 are limited to (40) forty years of service. The tank cars must be taken out of service on December 31st of their 40th year.

Tank cars in chlorine service are the exception to this service life specification. They must be taken out of service on the last day of the month in which they were built after forty or fifty years of service, depending upon the year they were built.

Tank cars past their inspection date or out of service life cannot be loaded and can only be shipped as per conditions set forth by the AAR. Tank cars which are already loaded must be offloaded. For further information check with your Corporate Logistics Department.
Lining

This stencil must be applied to tank cars equipped with the following: exterior thermal coatings, interior protective coatings, or coatings made of rubber, polyvinyl chloride, or polyurethane elastomeric. This stencil must be in lettering at least 2" high and include:
  • Kind of coating or lining (name)
  • Date (Month and Year) of application
  • By (Who applied it)


As shown here, AIDX 2000 has Plasite lining. The stencil includes:

    PLASITE 3070 LINING
    APPLIED 6-1998
    BY UTC - 85

Rule 88.B2 Stencil

When tank cars have been inspected in compliance with AAR Field Manual Rule 88 B.2, they must be stenciled accordingly. The stencil should have letters at least 1" high and be applied on both sides of the tank car near the consolidated stencil. This inspection must be completed every ten years.

The first inspection(s) are due by June 1, 2002 if not inspected for other reasons set forth in this rule (i.e., undergoing stub sill inspection in accordance with FRA emergency order 17). AIDX is properly stenciled:

    RULE 88 B INSPECTED
    DATE 8-1998
    BY UTC- 85
    DUE 8- 2003

PM Stencil

If a PM Stencil (Preventive Maintenance) stencil is present, the stencil will indicate what location/shop performed the PM and the date it was completed.

    PM 10-99
    RESCAR 110

Paint Stencil

You may also find a Paint Stencil. This stencil indicates what location performed the painting and stenciling, and the date it was completed. It also includes the paint system used on the tank car. System EU-1 was used on AIDX 2000.

    Painted 8-1998
    By UTC- 85
    SYSTEM EU-1

The PM and Paint Stencil do not have to be on the tank car but most companies do so for auditing purposes.
Brake Shoe Stencil

Tank cars using high friction composition brake shoes must be stenciled on all four corners of the tank car with the type and size of the brake shoe. AIDX 2000 has 1-1/2" high friction composite brake shoes as indicated by the stencil "1 1/2 INCH HF COMP SHOES".

    1 1/2 INCH HF COMP SHOES


AIDX 2000 has this stencil on the tank near the consolidated stencil. This stencil is sometimes also found on end sill just above the grab iron.