| As information, Union Pacific would like to advise our customers that load railroad controlled grain covered hoppers of a Gross Rail Load (GRL) change on two (2) specific series of railcars. The manufacturer of bolster castings on grain covered hoppers in the series UP 87200 - 87399 (200 cars) and series UP 88850 - 89349 (500 cars) will no longer certify those castings for 286,000 lbs. GRL service. Accordingly, in the interest of safety and derailment prevention, Union Pacific will be lowering the GRL on these grain covered hoppers in UMLER to 263,000 lbs. on August 18, 2009.
Of the total of 700 railcars in these 2 series, approximately 350 of them carry a 286,000 lbs. GRL stencil today. At this time, Union Pacific is beginning the process of restenciling these railcars to 263,000 lbs. GRL. We expect to restencil all of them to 263,000 lbs. GRL by the end of 2009. In the meantime, however, once UMLER is updated with the 263,000 lbs. GRL on August 18, 2009, it is imperative that loaders of these railcars load them only as a 263,000 lbs. GRL railcar. In other words, from this date forward the railcars should be loaded according to UMLER capacity only, regardless of the stenciled GRL at the time. The standard 5,000 lb. overload tolerance will still apply. Adherence to this policy will help alleviate overload and freight billing issues. Union Pacific regrets any inconvenience this action may cause, however, in the interest of safety and derailment prevention, it is an action that must be taken.
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