Safety issue

Safety issue description

Subsurface cracks appeared to be more common on wheels made with Class BM grade steel while operating under conditions of high speed cyclic loading, such as the SCT class locomotives
Issue number RO-2011-009-SI-02
Issue owner SCT Logistics
Transport function Rail: Freight
Date issue released 03/07/2013
Issue status justification

SCT has advised the following actions: • Update the wheel management policies to require a more regular wheel machining regime across the fleet, in the range 130,000 km – 150,000 km, removing 4 mm per turn. • For future wheel purchases, particularly for high speed operations specify NUVAN class vanadium modified steel that provides increased fracture toughness.

Safety action

Action type Proactive action
Action number RO-2011-009-NSA-025
Organisation Class BM grade steel
Action date 03/07/2013
Action description

To reduce the risk of further failures with wheels fitted to the SCT classes of locomotives, SCT has advised the following actions:

  • Update the wheel management policies to require a more regular wheel machining regime across the fleet, in the range 130,000 km – 150,000 km, removing 4 mm per turn.
  • For future wheel purchases, particularly for high speed operations specify NUVAN class vanadium modified steel that provides increased fracture toughness.
ATSB response

The ATSB is satisfied that the action taken by SCT Logistics addresses this safety issue.
Action status Closed