Railcar mover daily checklist
A brand-neutral daily inspection checklist for Trackmobile, Shuttlewagon and other railcar movers, with the wear parts worth keeping on the shelf.
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Practical notes on identifying, specifying and sourcing locomotive parts.
MLW and Alco 251 parts: variants, sizes and who still supports the engine
The Alco 251 powers most Montreal-built MLW road units still running in Canada. A short guide to its variants, the units that carry it, and where parts come from today.
How to write a locomotive parts RFQ that gets a fast answer
Eight details that let a supplier price a locomotive part on the first pass, with a template you can copy.
The 92-day locomotive inspection and the blue card
What the US periodic inspection rule requires, how it differs from the daily inspection, what goes on form FRA F 6180-49A, and how to stage parts around it.
Locomotive wheel defect limits in Canada and the United States
The flange, flat spot and hollow tread measurements that take a locomotive wheel out of service under Transport Canada and US Federal Railroad Administration rules.
Unit exchange, outright, repair and return: what the terms mean and how core charges work
Locomotive parts are quoted in several conditions and several commercial terms. Knowing them makes quotes comparable and avoids a surprise core bill.
EMD 567, 645 or 710: how to tell which engine you have
The three EMD two-stroke engine families share a layout but not all their parts. Here is how to identify yours from the data plate, the unit model and a few visible features.