[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR231.4]

[Page 391-392]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 231--RAILROAD SAFETY APPLIANCE STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 231.4  Fixed-end low-side gondola and low-side hopper cars.

    (Cars with sides 36 inches or less above the floor are low-side 
cars.)
    (a) Hand brakes--(1) Number. Same as specified for ``Box and other 
house cars'' (see Sec. 231.1(a)(1)).
    (2) Dimensions. Same as specified for ``Box and other house cars'' 
(see Sec. 231.1(a)(2)).
    (3) Location. (i) Each hand brake shall be so located that it can be 
safely operated while car is in motion.
    (ii) The brake shaft shall be located on end of car, to the left of 
and not more than 22 inches from center.
    (iii) Carriers are not required to change the brakes from right to 
left side on steel or steel-underframe cars with platform end sills, in 
service July 1, 1911, except when such appliances are

[[Page 392]]

renewed, at which time they must be made to comply with the standards 
prescribed.
    (iv) Carriers are not required to change the location of brake 
wheels and brake shafts on cars in service July 1, 1911, where the 
appliances are within 3 inches of the required location, except that 
when cars undergo regular repairs they must then be made to comply with 
the standards prescribed.
    (4) Manner of application. Same as specified for ``Box and other 
house cars'' (see Sec. 231.1(a)(4)).
    (b) Brake step. Same as specified for ``Box and other house cars'' 
(see Sec. 231.1(b)).
    (c) Sill steps. Same as specified for ``Box and other house cars'' 
(see Sec. 231.1(d)).
    (d) Side handholds--(1) Number. Same as specified for ``Box and 
other house cars'' (see Sec. 231.1(h)(1)).
    (2) Dimensions. Same as specified for ``Box and other house cars'' 
(see Sec. 231.1(h)(2)).
    (3) Location. (i) Horizontal, one near each end on each side of car, 
not less than 24 nor more than 30 inches above center line of coupler, 
if car construction will permit, but handhold shall not project above 
top of side. Clearance of outer end of handhold shall be not more than 8 
inches from end of car.
    (ii) Carriers are not required to change the location of handholds 
on cars in service July 1, 1911, except end handholds under end sills, 
where the appliances are within 3 inches of the required location, 
except that when cars undergo regular repairs they must then be made to 
comply with the standards prescribed.
    (4) Manner of application. Same as specified for ``Box and other 
house cars'' (see Sec. 231.1(h)(4)).
    (e) Horizontal end handholds--(1) Number. Same as specified for 
``Box and other house cars'' (see Sec. 231.1(i)(1)).
    (2) Dimensions. Same as specified for ``Box and other house cars'' 
(see Sec. 231.1(i)(2)).
    (3) Location. (i) One near each side on each end of car, not less 
than 24 nor more than 30 inches above center line of coupler, if car 
construction will permit. Clearance of outer end of handhold shall be 
not more than 8 inches from side of car.
    (ii) One near each side of each end of car on face of end sill, 
projecting outward or downward. Clearance of outer end of handhold shall 
be not more than 16 inches from side of car.
    (iii) Carriers are not required to change the location of handholds 
on cars in service July 1, 1911, except end handholds under end sills, 
where the appliances are within 3 inches of the required location, 
except that when cars undergo regular repairs they must then be made to 
comply with the standards prescribed.
    (4) Manner of application. Same as specified for ``Box and other 
house cars'' (see Sec. 231.1(i)(4)).
    (f) Uncoupling levers. Same as specified for ``Box and other house 
cars'' (see Sec. 231.1(k)).
    (g) End-ladder clearance. (1) No part of car above end sills within 
30 inches from side of car, except buffer block, brake shaft, brake 
step, brake wheel or uncoupling lever shall extend to within 12 inches 
of a vertical plane parallel with end of car and passing through the 
inside face of knuckle when closed with coupler horn against the buffer 
block or end sill, and no other part of end of car or fixtures on same 
above end sills, other than exceptions noted in this subparagraph, shall 
extend beyond the outer face of buffer block.
    (2) Carriers are not required to make changes to secure additional 
end-ladder clearance on cars in service July 1, 1911, that have 10 or 
more inches end-ladder clearance, within 30 inches of side of car, until 
car is shopped for work amounting to practically rebuilding body of car, 
at which time they must be made to comply with the standards prescribed.