JBW was engaged to perform a comprehensive review of the platform lifting hydraulic system on a catenary maintenance railcar following a hydraulic failure that occurred during factory acceptance testing while two individuals were on the platform. Our analysis and safety review were conducted in accordance with, OWSC601, ISO 4413:2010, ANSI/SAIA A92.20:2021, and ISO 17165‑1.
As part of this review, we developed a leakdown test procedure consistent with these standards and were onsite in Fort Worth to witness the testing. After installation of the primary lift cylinder in Delaware, we conducted a site visit to verify that the system was installed in accordance with the design documents provided.
Our evaluation included reviewing each hydraulic component in the platform lifting circuit to confirm proper capacity, as well as assessing the system’s safety mechanisms to ensure compliance with the applicable codes. We also performed high‑level hydraulic flow calculations to validate the design.
Overall, we determined that the system was fundamentally safe, though we identified several recommendations to enhance safety and reliability. Because the railcar was manufactured in Texas, the final report was sealed in the state of Texas.
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