Abstract: In order to improve the safety with which commodities (including regulated hazardous materials) can be shipped by rail around the country in tank cars and the like, each tank and associated undercarriage and structure is inspected and requalified according to an exhaustive predetermined list of sites, tests, parameters and apparatus comprising, broadly, determining which type of vehicle is under inspection and selecting an exhaustive list of sites to be inspected for the identified type of vehicle from an instruction set. Each of the listed sites is inspected in accord with the instructions set forth for each of the listed sites in the instruction set and the data derived from implementation of the tests conducted at each of the exhaustive list of sites is recorded.

Abstract: A method of requalifying a rail born tank car adapted to transport includes inspecting the tank car in accord with a selected one of a plurality of procedures, each procedure delineating and defining a pre-determined plurality of inspections and test. Inspection data obtained from the predetermined series of steps and tests is input into a computer-readable storage medium, where it is related by a computer having at least one processor, to secondary data, such as ownership data, lease status data, rental status data, and/or transported commodity data. Based on this relation, the computer computes a requalification date for the tank car based on the input inspection data and the secondary data. This requalification date is output to at least one of a computer-readable storage medium, a display device, and a physical print media inclusive of an outer surface of the tank car.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for repairing, cleaning, painting, or otherwise maintaining railcars within a railcar maintenance facility. Specifically, the present invention relates to a process for maintaining railcars within a facility wherein the facility has an inbound track, an outbound track, and a plurality of maintenance stations for moving a railcar in and out of the facility and for repairing, cleaning, or painting the same. Further, the railcar repair process allows for efficient movement of railcars through the facility by queuing the railcars at strategic locations within the railcar facility.

Abstract: A test procedure for inspecting a vehicle adapted to transport commodities. This procedure includes the steps of inspecting a lining disposed in a tank of a tank car and comparing crack, blister, and corrosion conditions on the liner with predetermined models. These predetermined models convey a discrete range of severity levels of cracks, blisters, and corrosion conditions and permit determination of a severity level for the compared condition(s). The severity level for the condition is then documented. Standardization of inspection findings facilitates trending analysis of each tank car or vessel lining to determine when requalification of a given lining should be carried out, thus improving the safety with which commodities (including regulated hazardous materials) are shipped and stored.

Abstract: Facilities for repairing, cleaning, painting, or other maintaining railcars are provided. The facilities include an inbound railway, a plurality of queue areas, a railcar transfer apparatus, and a plurality of repair stations. The facility may be utilized to move a railcar in and out of the facility to repair, clean, or paint the same. Further, railcar repair facility allows for the efficient movement of railcars through the facility by queuing the railcars at strategic locations within the railcar facility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for managing the repairing, cleaning, painting, or otherwise maintaining of railcars within a railcar maintenance facility. Specifically, the present invention relates to a railcar maintenance management system and method for maintaining railcars within a facility wherein the facility has an inbound track, an outbound track, and a plurality of maintenance stations for moving a railcar in and out of the facility and for repairing, cleaning, or painting the same. Further, the railcar maintenance management system and method allows for efficient movement of railcars through the facility by queueing the railcars at strategic locations within the railcar facility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for managing the repairing, cleaning, painting, or otherwise maintaining of railcars within a railcar maintenance facility. Specifically, the present invention relates to a railcar maintenance management system and method for maintaining railcars within a facility wherein the facility has an inbound track, an outbound track, and a plurality of maintenance stations for moving a railcar in and out of the facility and for repairing, cleaning, or painting the same. Further, the railcar maintenance management system and method allows for efficient movement of railcars through the facility by queueing the railcars at strategic locations within the railcar facility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for managing the repairing, cleaning, painting, or otherwise maintaining of railcars within a railcar maintenance facility. Specifically, the present invention relates to a railcar maintenance management system and method for maintaining railcars within a facility wherein the facility has an inbound track, an outbound track, and a plurality of maintenance stations for moving a railcar in and out of the facility and for repairing, cleaning, or painting the same. Further, the railcar maintenance management system and method allows for efficient movement of railcars through the facility by queueing the railcars at strategic locations within the railcar facility.