Subpart D

FRACTURE REPORT INSTRUCTIONS

TYPE OF INSPECTION – Indicate the type of inspection being performed when fracture was found. At least one (1) box in group must be checked.

RAILROAD – FRA railroad reporting code, (e.g. CSX or NS). Four (4) character alpha.

SUBDIVISION – Railroad's subdivision or district. If none enter "system". Fourteen (14) character alphanumeric.1

MILEPOST – Railroad's designated milepost at the location of the fracture. 7.2 character alphanumeric, e.g., ABC1234.56.¹
^{DATE FOUND –
Date the fracture was found. Eight (8) character numeric, MMDDYYYY.
ANNUAL MGT –
Million Gross Tons (from previous year) for the specific track with the
fracture. 4.1 numeric, e.g., 123.4 (allowable range 0 to 999.9 inclusive).
TRACK CLASS –
FRA Class for track with the fracture. One (1) character numeric, e.g., 3
(allowable range 2 - 6 inclusive).
TANGENT/CURVE/SPIRAL/INNER/OUTER –
Indicate whether fracture found on tangent, curve (include degree of curvature)
or spiral and if inner or outer rail, if applicable. If tangent, check TANGENT.
Otherwise check CURVE or SPIRAL and INNER or OUTER. If curve checked, curvature
entered as 2.1 numeric, e.g. 2.5.
RAIL SECTION –
Indicate each rail section comprising the joint, (e.g. for a standard bar, enter
136 or for a compromise bar, enter 132/115).
ANNUAL JOINT INSPECTION FREQUENCY –
Number of times per year that walking joint bar inspection is performed. Two (2)
character numeric, e.g. 3 (allowable range 1 – 12 inclusive).
DATE OF LAST JOINT BAR INSPECTION –
Date the last walking joint bar inspection was performed. Eight (8) character
numeric, MMDDYYYY.
BAR TYPE/HOLES –
Indicate bar type: standard, insulated, or compromise bar and number of holes.
Two (2) boxes (one in each group) must be checked.
BROKEN THROUGH –
For each bar, field and gage, check appropriate box if broken completely through
and indicate the location of the break (through center, through inner bolt hole
or other location). For each bar, field and gage, there is no requirement to
check any box(es) – neither bar is broken through.
CRACKED –
For each bar, field and gage, indicate the crack location(s) and corresponding
length(s). For each bar, field and gage, any number of boxes may be checked. If
box is checked, crack length is 3.1 numeric, e.g., 2.5. If OTHER is checked,
text description can be 64 (128) character alpha-numeric.
GAP BETWEEN RAIL ENDS –
Measure and record the distance between the rail ends. If joint is pulled apart
or separated, estimate the gap prior to separation. 5.2 numeric, e.g. 10.25.}
RAIL END BATTER OR RAMP ^{-
Measure and record the height and length of the batter or ramp for each
rail end and record even if found to be zero. See Figures 1 and 2 for
method of measurement. Check appropriate boxes (one each of NORTH or EAST and
one each of SOUTH or WEST) and enter batter ramp as four (4) 4.2 numeric, e.g.,
1.25.}

1 This format has been pre-established in FRA’s RISPC system for its safety inspectors.

TREAD MISMATCH – Measure and record the tread mismatch. See Figure 3 for method of measurement. 4.2 numeric, e.g., 1.25.

JOINT VERTICAL MOVEMENT – Record the vertical movement of the rail joint (not track surface) according to 213.13. 4.2 numeric, e.g., 1.25.

GAGE RAMP – In curves only, measure and record the gage ramp distance out and length. See Figure 4 for method of measurement. Two (2) 4.2 numeric, e.g., 1.25.

GAGE MISMATCH – In curves only, measure and record the gage mismatch. See Figure 5 for method of measurement. 4.2 numeric, e.g., 1.25.

JOINT LATERAL MOVEMENT – In curves only, record the lateral movement of the rail joint (not gage) according to 213.13. 4.2 numeric, e.g., 1.25.

OTHER COMMENTS: - Other comments, including any other factors or conditions that may have contributed to the fracture of the bar(s). 256 character alphanumeric.