Standardization News

Many people love riding on a train, even if it's a miniature scale ride at an amusement park. A new ASTM International standard will ensure that the tracks for such rides are built soundly.

The new standard is F2960, Practice for Permanent Amusement Railway Ride Tracks and Related Devices. It applies to the design, manufacture, installation, operation, maintenance and inspection of permanent amusement railway rides with gage 12 inches (305 mm) or greater.

"The main users of F2960 will be designers, builders and operators of amusement railways," says ASTM member Joel Fritsche, executive director, Walt Disney Imagineering.

F2960 offers detailed written instructions, accompanied by more than 20 illustrations, covering all major aspects of amusement railway rides. In addition to the body of the standard, F2960 features an annex on rail defects, operating restrictions and remedial action for standard gauge, as well as extensive appendices on good practices and inspections.

Track covered by F2960 does not fall within the scope of the primary ASTM amusement standard, F2291, Practice for Design of Amusement Rides and Devices.

Subcommittee F24.60 on Special Rides/Attractions developed F2960. The subcommittee, part of ASTM International Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices, welcomes all interested parties to participate in its standards developing activities.

Fritsche notes that those knowledgeable in locomotive boiler design, inspection and certification are especially encouraged to join F24.60 as it is developing a proposed new standard WK31185, Practice for Amusement Steam Ride Locomotives.

To purchase ASTM standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation, or contact ASTM Sales (phone: 877-909-ASTM; sales@astm.org).

CONTACT Technical Information: Joel Fritsche, Walt Disney Imagineering • Glendale, Calif. • tel +1.818.544.6928 | ASTM Staff: Katerina Koperna • tel +1.610.832.9728 | Upcoming Meeting: Feb. 11-14, 2015 • Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.