Rail supplier news from New York Air Brake and Railinc (Dec. 8)

New York Air Brake’s DB-60 II with Brake Cylinder Maintaining (BCM) technology received unconditional approval from the Association of American Railroads, making the company the only supplier granted full approval for the technology. Introduced in 2015, the BCM feature is a patented brake control valve that improves braking performance by replenishing air pressure when a leak occurs in the brake cylinder, helping freight-rail cars to stay in service longer. Unconditional approval from AAR represents important validation from an industry-leading regulatory body, company officials said in a press release.

Railinc has added cushioning devices to its component tracking program, which is designed to help freight-rail carriers, equipment owners and shops see the health status and history of their equipment and components. More than 93,000 cushioning devices have been registered and associated in the tracking system since 2021, when the process became mandatory for newly purchased cars and cars undergoing major maintenance or repairs. All rail cars with cushioning devices eventually will be integrated into the system, Railinc officials said in a press release.