Subject: Windows / Glazing (3/11/1991)
[3/24/88] SAFETY - NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS. The Board, as a result of the steam excursion wreck in May 1986 on the Norfolk & Western has recommended that certain changes be made in all railroad equipment. The Board states that it is aware of the modification and restoration of historic equipment by societies who take pride in restoring equipment to the original condition. However, according to the Board, when the historic equipment is used on the general railroad system, the public has a right to expect that the equipment will not jeopardize the public's safety. Specifically, the Board chastises the Norfolk & Western for not requiring tight lock couplers on all cars. There are, of course, good reasons for not using interlocking couplers, such as when the engine pulls the entire train off of a high bridge. In addition, the Board comments upon the safety glazing standards and mentions the many broken windows which occurred during the accident, or as a result of people escaping from the cars. Therefore, the Board believes that no cars should be exempt from recognized safety standards. Whether Lexan windows are in fact a useful safety standard, or a hindrance to evacuation is another matter, but the association needs to be aware of the Board's thinking, and also formulate its own response. I have seen one reasoned response made by one of our members, the Keokuk Junction Ry.
[6/20/88] Glazing - As I reported to you last time, the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended that FRA safety glazing be mandatory in all cars which carry the general public. Currently, most private cars are exempt from this glazing requirement because of regulations issued by the FRA exempting historic and antiquated equipment, over 25 years of age, used in private, excursion, and other specialized service. An ad hoc committee has been appointed by the board of directors to make a formal study and response to the National Transportation Safety Board concerning their recommended glazing requirement. Nonetheless, many of you already have Lexan in your windows. Some of this is only a single sheet of Lexan with a sheet of glass on either the inside or the outside. As you know, Lexan is virtually impenetrable, and while it may stop rocks from coming through the side windows, it similarly prevents the entrance of fireman after a wreck, or the exit of passengers. Part of the safety glazing requirements of the FRA are that two escape windows be provided in each car, one on each side, and that they be clearly and plainly marked. These windows, while glazed with Lexan, or similar material, nonetheless can be readily removed in an emergency. Do not fail to include this feature in your car if you have Lexan glazing. Although the ad hoc committee has not reached a final conclusion, it will strongly recommend that when glass is used, it must be laminated safety glass or else tempered safety glass, the kind which will break into small chunks, and in no event should it be ordinary plate glass which, when broken has many sharp cutting edges and slivers.
[8/15/88] Glazing - My report of June 20, 1988 contains a mistake with respect to FRA approved glazing. I indicated that only two escape windows were to be provided in each car, one on each side. I am mistaken, because 49 CFR 223.9(c) provides for four emergency windows in each car, and it does not specify whether they are all on one side or where they are to be, apparently this being up to the car owner.
[6/26/89] NYC Window Frames - I have received a note from Les Kasten advising that the New York Central was the only post war purchaser of window frames which would fit both Budd and Pullman built cars. Les is attempting to get a group together to pay for the tooling to have the R. E. Jackson Co. manufacture the windows. The idea would be that the New York Central car owners would own the tooling, and split the costs of making the frames in bedroom, roomette, and hallway sizes. Les estimates the tooling costs at $700, and the individual windows at $325-350. Those who joined the group later would either have to buy their own tooling, or pay some sort of surcharge to use the purchaser group's tooling. If you are interested, contact Les Kasten, who generally has an ad in each issue of Private Varnish.
[12/26/89] NYC Window Frames - I need to correct my last bulletin concerning the tooling for window frames which is being spearheaded by Les Kasten. This is to be a group purchase. What I did not make clear was that these window frames are for emergency windows, and not for the regular window frames. Amtrak has required complete FRA glazing of the American European express cars, including emergency windows in each of the separate sleeping rooms. This is a standard which they also require of their own equipment. So far, these requirements have not been extended to the ordinary privately owned car. The rationale for requiring complete FRA glazing on the American European express cars is that they are operated daily in regular Amtrak service. Most private cars are not, and our equipment remains exempt under the FRA regulations, for the moment. You may wish to consider installing Lexan MR 5000 in your windows, just as Amtrak does.
[7/10/90] Emergency Windows - Amtrak now requires that all cars, including their own, which operate in regular daily service, have an emergency window in each separate room. This apparently includes our members American European Express, and Princess Tours. As to the remainder of our private cars, which operate occasionally, Amtrak will merely recommend, but not require, the full emergency window treatment. At the present time, you are governed by the Federal Railroad Administration regulations on glazing, which exempt antiquated and historical cars. As we have previously advised the National Transportation Safety Board, it continues to be AAPRCO's recommendation that you nonetheless install at least four emergency windows, and that you replace all glass with safety glass, or tempered glass which will be of the type which will not form sharp edges which could cut or lacerate passengers.
[7/10/90] Leaking Windows - Those of you who utilize the Adlake type sash wherein a metal frame is squeezed against a rubber strip set in the car edge to prevent the entrance of water, know that seating is critical. If there is the slightest misalignment, these windows leak. Even the old Pullman maintenance manual stated "A report or evidence of water leaking in or around window openings is usually due to a defective seal between gasket rubber and outside of sash frame". Sam Estok, who was doing the work on American European Express cars in Florida advised me of a gooey rubber material which will stop these leaks. It is called Windo-Weld. I checked with 3M, who is the manufacturer of this product, and found that it is a butylrubber composition which comes in various cross-sections, and in lengths of 15 feet. It wholesales for about $7/length, and when placed between the window frame and the car side gasket, it squashes into shape, and prevents the entry of water. Unfortunately, when it comes time to change the window, this material is a bear to remove.
[3/11/91] FRA Glazing - Under date of October 31, 1990, the FRA began to accumulate an inventory of historic or antiquated locomotives and passenger equipment. As you know, their interest in excursion and museum operations, particularly of locomotives, and track conditions, has substantially increased. Unfortunately, there was a reference in the documents sent to the field inspectors to "antiquated equipment" as being passenger cars built in 1945 or earlier. This caused one of the FRA inspectors to take exception to one our member's cars on the grounds that it was not antiquated, or if it was antiquated, it had been rebuilt, and therefore the new standards apply. We were able to satisfactorily resolve this problem by pointing to the history of the regulations concerning glazing. The glazing requirements do not apply to passenger cars 25 years of age, or older, when such cars are privately owned and are used only for excursion. educational, recreational, or private transportation purposes. But for your own safety, I would heartily recommend that you use nothing but laminated safety glass, or tempered glass in your windows, even if you are exempt.
Paul L. DeVerter II
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