When another RR’s locomotive is on a RR for a long period of time, does the borrowing RR have to service or inspect the other RR’s locomotive if they have it for so long. (i.e. NS is using one of UP’s locomotives do they have to service it say something minor occurs? Do they contact UP to tell them?)
Normally Locomotives are returned before the due date for a 92-day inspection or heavier, they are also returned if significant repairs are required (shipped back dead if necessary). The borrowing railroad does perform the “Daily” inspection but that is very minor requiring only a few minutes to perform.
When I was working in the Diesel shop, if the 92day inspection was due or if it was a lease engine it was inspected and repaired, I work for the CSX and have seen not many but some UPs and NS worked in our shop the owners may have given them permission to do, by computer or phone, I really don’t know why they were there but we did the work regardless.
I hope this answered your question, but I left some if’s to your question.
The way I understant it the AAR has set the prices a forign road can charge for any repairs that a forign road does on other roads units. That price is usually significantly more then if the home road does the repairs so doing the work on your own engines is more cost effective.
UP has a rapid response team…ok, don’t hurt yourself laughing…
But they will come out to the locomotive and do any running repairs…light bulbs, radio, brake shoes, simple engine work, stuff like that.
If we borrow Up’s power, and it has a major problem, then we contact UP to see how they want it handled…if we “broke” it, then normally we fix it…if it is something that would have happened regardless of when or where it was being used, most of the time UP wants it back dead to fix it themselves.
As was pointed out, the repair billing is usually significantly higher than if they fixed it themselves.
If the unit is on a power hours payback, it pays the lending road to make sure it is in good shape to start with, so they don’t have to pay the billing on repairs if it quits while the other road is using it.
This has a twofold advantage.
The road borrowing the unit doesn’t get the dregs of the lenders fleet, any old shot to crud unit….and the lender doesn’t have to pay the AAR billing to the borrower to keep the piece of junk running long enough to pay back the hours.
The AAR covers frieght cars used in interchange , not locomotives . If we have a foriegn unit and charge for a brake shoe there is a good chance we aren’t going to get paid . If a unit goes dead on an FRA inspection we have to ask the owner (railroad or leasing company ) what they want to do with it . We always charged standard shop rate for work such as this . Often times a foreign unit would arrive with a problem like a loading problem etc. Since we want to use the locomotive to pull one of our trains , we simply have to fix it if the costs are within reason . Kinda like run em like you own em. Sometimes this is taken to extremes. We have had units returned to us missing a few traction motors. Missing major components etc. Of course the road using our locomotive was billed for the replacements OR replacements were sent from stock.
All pooled power agreements have the specifications of responsibilitys in writing . The usual agreements give the operating railroad responsibility to make small repairs. Bigger repairs are (like a turbo) are either negotiated or returned to the owner.
Randy
One more question, Who has to pay for the diesel fuel used?
I see leased locomotives being repaired all the time on the NS.And I think if the 90 day inspection comes up it’s in the lease agreement for this to be done also.The CSX leased some NS 3900’s one time.And ended up paying the lease off because the repairs where too costly[:O].The user pays all fuel,water and sand costs.I just can’t figure out how the NS gets those brand new units from other railroads.I like them though[:)] !
Thanks mackb4
I love all of those UP GEVOs NS has been running through my neck of the woods lately.
Could they be coming from Erie, PA?