A lot of inspections are done in house and the FRA takes the carriers word for it from COTS to complete locomotive inspections. The FRA needs to step in and and have inspectors leaning over the shoulders of the people doing the repairs. EVERYTHING!!!! If they had a clean air supply, they could have tested all the air parts weeks ago. I am sure someone signed off and that person should be hung up by his nuts. Its like the fox watching the hen house in this case.

If they don't have a clean room they should have sent it all out to a qualified company that does. That is how a lot of small pikes do it and I am sure UP has one somewhere. If the brake valve is too old, replace it with a 26 and build a mount for it. Almost all roads did this with the old Fs, etc. The whole brake system works with diaphragms. (No not the ones from sex ed) It is a simple rework but costs $$

For myself, I would not want to be anywhere near any of their engines under steam. Mark my words, if the FRA and UP don't get a handle on this, there will be an accident and that will end the steam programs as we know them.

As a retired rail, we fought for years for a safe work place and have the laws in place. Trouble is the FRA has not been truthful in the past (I know, first hand and it is in the federal register in the 70s) and outside pressure makes them look the other way some times.

As they say folks, "CHAIN UP"

SBN