[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: 49CFR238.311]

[Page 562-563]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 238--PASSENGER EQUIPMENT SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
Subpart D--Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance Requirements for Tier I 
                           Passenger Equipment
 
Sec. 238.311  Single car test.

    (a) Except for self-propelled passenger cars, single car tests of 
all passenger cars and all unpowered vehicles used in passenger trains 
shall be performed in accordance with either APTA Standard SS-M-005-98, 
``Code of Tests for Passenger Car Equipment Using Single Car Testing 
Device,'' published March, 1998; or an alternative procedure approved by 
FRA pursuant to Sec. 238.21. The incorporation by reference of this APTA 
standard was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy 
of the incorporated document from the American Public Transit 
Association, 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20005. You may 
inspect a copy of the document at the Federal Railroad Administration, 
Docket Clerk, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW., Suite 7000, Washington, DC or at 
the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 
700, Washington, DC.
    (b) Each single car test required by this section shall be performed 
by a qualified maintenance person.
    (c) A railroad shall perform a single car test of the brake system 
of a car or vehicle described in paragraph (a) of this section if the 
car or vehicle is found with one or more of the following wheel defects:
    (1) Built-up tread;
    (2) Slid flat wheel;
    (3) Thermal crack;
    (4) Overheated wheel; or
    (5) Shelling.
    (d) A railroad need not perform the single car test required in 
paragraph (c) of this section, if the railroad can establish that the 
wheel defect is other than built-up tread and is due to a cause other 
than a defective brake system on the car.
    (e) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, a railroad 
shall perform a single car test of the brake system of a car or vehicle 
described in paragraph (a) of this section when:
    (1) Except for private cars, a car or vehicle is placed in service 
after having been out of service for 30 days or more; or
    (2) One or more of the following conventional air brake equipment 
items is removed, repaired, or replaced:
    (i) Relay valve;
    (ii) Service portion;
    (iii) Emergency portion; or
    (iv) Pipe bracket.
    (f) Exception. If the single car test cannot be made at the point 
where repairs are made, the car may be moved

[[Page 563]]

in passenger service to the next forward location where the test can be 
made. A railroad may move a car in this fashion only after visually 
verifying an application and release of the brakes on both sides of the 
car that was repaired, and provided that the car is appropriately tagged 
to indicate the need to perform a single car test. The single car test 
shall be completed prior to, or as a part of, the car's next calendar 
day mechanical inspection.
    (g) If one or more of the following conventional air brake equipment 
items is removed, repaired, or replaced only that portion which is 
renewed or replaced must be tested to satisfy the provisions of this 
section:
    (1) Brake reservoir;
    (2) Brake cylinder;
    (3) Piston assembly;
    (4) Vent valve;
    (5) Quick service valve;
    (6) Brake cylinder release valve;
    (7) Modulating valve or slack adjuster; or
    (8) Angle cock or cutout cock.

[64 FR 25660, May 12, 1999, as amended at 65 FR 41309, July 3, 2000]