[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR174.83]

[Page 648-649]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
 CHAPTER I--RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 174_CARRIAGE BY RAIL--Table of Contents
 
   Subpart D_Handling of Placarded Rail Cars, Transport Vehicles and 
                           Freight Containers
 
Sec.  174.83  Switching placarded rail cars, transport vehicles, freight 
containers, and bulk packagings.

    (a) In switching operations where the use of hand brakes is 
necessary--
    (1) It must be determined by trial whether a loaded, placarded car, 
or a car occupied by a rider in a draft containing a placarded car, has 
its hand brakes in proper working condition before it is cut off;
    (2) A loaded, placarded tank car or a draft which includes a loaded 
placarded tank car may not be cut off until the preceeding rail car 
clears the ladder track; and
    (3) A loaded, placarded tank car or a draft which includes a loaded 
placarded tank car must clear the ladder track before another rail car 
is allowed to follow.
    (b) Any loaded rail car placarded for a Division 1.1 or Division 1.2 
explosive, a Division 2.3 Hazard Zone A gas or a Division 6.1 PG I 
Hazard Zone A material, or a Class DOT 113 tank car displaying a 
Division 2.1 (flammable gas) placard, including a Class DOT 113 tank car 
containing only a residue of a Division 2.1 material, may not be:
    (1) Cut off while in motion;
    (2) Coupled into with more force than is necessary to complete the 
coupling; or

[[Page 649]]

    (3) Struck by any car moving under its own momentum.
    (c) A placarded flatcar, or a flatcar carrying a placarded transport 
vehicle, freight container, or bulk packaging under this subchapter may 
not be cut off while in motion.
    (d) No rail car moving under its own momentum may be permitted to 
strike any placarded flatcar or any flatcar carrying a placarded 
transport vehicle, freight container, or bulk packaging.
    (e) No placarded flatcar or any flatcar carrying a placarded 
transport vehicle, freight container, or bulk packaging may be coupled 
into with more force than is necessary to complete the coupling.
    (f) When transporting a rail car, transport vehicle, or freight 
container placarded for Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive) materials in a 
terminal, yard, or on a side track or siding, the placarded rail car 
must be separated from the engine by at least one non-placarded rail car 
and must be placed in a location so that it will be safe from danger of 
fire. A rail car, transport vehicle, or freight container placarded for 
Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive) materials may not be placed under a 
bridge or overhead crossing, or in or alongside a passenger shed or 
station, except during transfer operations.

[Amdt. 174-68, 55 FR 52680, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66281, 
Dec. 20, 1991; Amdt. 174-75, 58 FR 50237, Sept. 24, 1993; Amdt. 174-77, 
59 FR 48549, Sept. 21, 1994; Amdt. 174-83, 61 FR 51339, Oct. 1, 1996; 66 
FR 45383, Aug. 28, 2001]