Document 38bqGajJrOXkLNy6Yo9Lp0dn

FILE NAME: Railroads (RR) DATE: 1981 Feb 2 DOC#: RR048 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter RE Use of Asbestos Rope as a Wick to Heat Rail r c l u ' u a r y 2 , .1913 1 A O O -500 M r . N ..J , A n d rew s General Ma na ye r- So fe ty/ Fechni ca .1 Training Illinois Central Gulf Rail roar] Two Illinois Center 233 North .Michi g an Avenue C h icago, 11.11 no.is 60601 Dear Nick: . This is in reference, to your letter of January 28, 1981, c o n c e r n i n g ICG's p rac tice. .us lng a shes to s rope as a v/ick to heat rail when making joints. We have checked with our encj inee r ing people and fine that our Company uses sawdust for this purpose.. Although they have tried many materials, they find sawdust which has been soaked in a ' m i x t u r e o f gasoline and ruel oil to be the best. Tne s a w d u s t is spread a long the base of the rail for several rail links on either side of the joint, then ignited. As the s a w d u s t b urns fuel oil is' poured along the well of the rail where, it runs down to the fire and prolongs it until the joint can be buck-bo lied. Our Eng ine e r I'ncj be pa r tmen L advises that there is a hi on d e n s i t y rope for this purpose avai lab le from the Eil-Teo C o m p a n y , P. 0. box 513, Hagerstown, Maryland 21.7 60. v/e have not tried this product, hut. you might want to have a look at it. Sincerely , x < / .'. r , .yr / ' R . u. Shaver Manager of S a f e t y - Gystem c c : All M e m b e r s of the S t e e r i n p C o m m i t t e e y