Recommendation: 202104-03

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Ref # 202104-03
Status Open / In progress
Occurrence Chassis Plate Fracture on General Motors Class 201, Locomotive 224, 7th July 2020
Occurrence Date 07 July 2020

Basis for Recommendation

Although noted as not being a contributory factor in the Chassis Plate failure of Locomotive 224. The design specification for the 201 Locomotive did require a maximum axle load of 17.9 ton (static). Data from the Acoustic Bearing Monitor showed the maximum axle load for Locomotive 224 may have been exceeded. As a result the RAIU make the following safety recommendation:

Recommendation

Iarnród Éireann Railway Undertaking (IÉ-RU) Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) and Iarnród Éireann Infrastructure Manager (IÉ-IM) Chief Civil Engineer (CCE) should carry out a risk assessment on the implications of the increased axle load of a 201 Locomotive.