[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR231.30]

[Page 432-436]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 231--RAILROAD SAFETY APPLIANCE STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 231.30  Locomotives used in switching service.

    (a) General requirements. (1) Except for steam locomotives equipped 
as provided in Sec. 231.16 of this part, all locomotives used in 
switching service built after March 31, 1977, must be equipped as 
provided in this section.
    (2) Except for steam locomotives equipped as prescribed in 
Sec. 231.16 of this part, all locomotives built prior to April 1, 1977, 
used in switching service after September 30, 1979, shall be equipped as 
provided in this section. Each carrier shall so equip forty percent (40 
percent) of such locomotives by October 1, 1977, seventy percent (70 
percent) by October 1, 1978, and all such locomotives by October 1, 
1979.
    (3) Locomotives without corner stairway openings may not be used to 
perform any switching service after September 30, 1979 except passenger 
car switching service at passenger stations.
    (b) Definitions. (1) Locomotive used in switching service means a 
locomotive regularly assigned to perform yard switching service.
    (2) Switching service means the classification of cars according to 
commodity or destination; assembling of cars for train movements; 
changing the position of cars for purposes of loading, unloading, or 
weighing, placing of locomotives and cars for repair or storage; or 
moving of rail equipment in connection with work service that does not 
constitute a road movement. However, this term does not include movement 
of a train or part of a train within yard limits by the road locomotive 
and the placement of locomotives or cars in a train or their removal 
from a train by the road locomotive while en route to the train's 
destination.
    (3) Safety tread surface means that portion of anti-skid surface of 
a switching step that actually is contacted by a shoe or boot.
    (4) Uncoupling mechanism means the arrangement for operating the 
coupler lock lift, including the uncoupling lever and all other 
appurtenances that facilitate operation of the coupler.
    (c) Switching step--(1) Number. Each locomotive used in switching 
service must have four (4) switching steps. (See Plate A)
    (2) Dimensions. Each such switching step must have--
    (i) On locomotives built after March 31, 1977, a minimum width of 
twenty-four (24) inches and a minimum depth

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of twelve (12) inches, except when necessary to accommodate the turning 
arc of a six-wheel truck and its appurtenances, the inside edge of the 
switching step shall have a minimum width of seventeen (17) inches (See 
Plate B);
    (ii) On locomotives built prior to April 1, 1977, a minimum width of 
eighteen (18) inches, and a minimum depth of eight (8) inches;
    (iii) A backstop, solid or perforated, with minimum height of 
backstop of six (6) inches above the safety tread surface; and
    (iv) A height of not more than nineteen (19) inches, preferably 
fifteen (15) inches, measured from top of rail to the safety tread 
surface.
    (3) Location. Switching steps must be located on each side near each 
end of a locomotive used in switching service. The bottom step of the 
stairway at these locations may also serve as a switching step if it 
meets all of the requirements of this section.
    (4) Manner of application. (i) Switching steps must be supported by 
a bracket at each end and fastened to the bracket by two bolts or rivets 
of at least one-half (\1/2\) inch diameter or by a weldment of at least 
twice the strength of a bolted attachment.
    (ii) Vertical clearance must be unobstructed, except for minor 
intrusions created by mechanical fasteners or a small triangular gusset 
plate at the platform level walkway, and free for use for at least a 
distance of eighty-four (84) inches over a portion of the switching step 
that is not less than seven (7) inches deep by eighteen (18) inches wide 
on locomotives built prior to April 1, 1977, and of not less than seven 
(7) inches deep by twenty-four (24) inches wide on locomotives built 
after March 31, 1977.
    (5) Material. (i) Steel or other material of equivalent or better 
strength and deflection characteristics, anti-skid, safety design, 
having at least fifty percent (50%) of the tread surface as open space 
must be used.
    (ii) When the step material creates a second level safety tread 
surface, the maximum difference in surface levels may not exceed three-
eighths (\3/8\) of an inch.
    (iii) The safety tread surface must extend to within one-half (\1/
2\) inch of each edge of the step.
    (6) Visibility. The outer edge of each switching step that is not 
illuminated must be painted a contrasting color. On locomotives built 
after March 31, 1977, switching steps shall be illuminated; on multiple-
unit locomotive consists used in switching service, only the front 
switching steps of the leading unit and the rear switching steps of the 
trailing unit must be illuminated.
    (d) End footboards and pilot steps. (1) Except for steam locomotives 
equipped as provided in Sec. 231.16, locomotives used in switching 
service built after March 31, 1975, may not be equipped with end 
footboards or pilot steps.
    (2) Except for steam locomotives equipped as provided in 
Sec. 231.16, locomotives used in switching service built before April 1, 
1975, may not be equipped with end footboards or pilot steps after 
September 30, 1978. Whenever end footboards or pilot steps are removed 
from a locomotive, the uncoupling mechanism and horizontal end handholds 
of the locomotive must be modified to comply with paragraphs (f) and (g) 
of this section.
    (e) Vertical handholds. Each switching step must be provided with 
two (2) vertical handholds or handrails, one on each side of the 
switching step stairway.
    (1) On locomotives built after March 31, 1977, each vertical 
handhold must--
    (i) Be constructed of wrought iron, steel or other material of 
equivalent strength and durability that is at least one (1) inch 
diameter and be securely fastened to the locomotive with one-half (\1/
2\) inch or larger bolts or rivets;
    (ii) Begin not less than six (6) inches nor more than thirty-two 
(32) inches above the safety tread surface of the switching step; on 
units with high snowplows, each must begin not more than thirty-six (36) 
inches above the safety tread surface of the switching step;
    (iii) Extend upward from switching step surface at least forty-eight 
(48) inches;
    (iv) Be painted in a contrasting color to a height of at least 
forty-eight (48) inches above the safety tread surface of the switching 
step; and

[[Page 434]]

    (v) Provide at least two and one-half (2\1/2\) inches of usable hand 
clearance throughout its entire length.
    (2) On locomotives built before April 1, 1977, each vertical 
handhold must--
    (i) Be constructed of wrought iron, steel or other material of 
equivalent strength and durability that is at least seven-eighths (\7/
8\) inch in diameter and be securely fastened with one-half (\1/2\) inch 
or larger bolts or rivets;
    (ii) Begin not less than five (5) inches nor more than thirty-two 
(32) inches above the safety tread surface; on units with high 
snowplows, each must begin not more than thirty-six (36) inches above 
the safety tread surface;
    (iii) Extend upward from safety tread surface of the switching step 
at least forty-eight (48) inches;
    (iv) Be painted in a contrasting color to a height of at least 
forty-eight (48) inches above the safety tread surface of the switching 
step; and
    (v) Provide at least two and one-half (2\1/2\) inches usable hand 
clearance throughout its entire length.
    (f) Uncoupling mechanisms. Each locomotive used in switching service 
must have means for operating the uncoupling mechanism safely from the 
switching step as well as from ground level. No part of the uncoupling 
mechanism may extend into the switching step or stairway opening or end 
platform area when the mechanism is in its normal position or when it is 
operated. (See Plate A)
    (g) Horizontal end handholds. Each locomotive used in switching 
service must have four (4) horizontal end handholds.
    (1) Each horizontal end handhold must--
    (i) Be constructed of wrought iron, steel or other material of 
equivalent strength and durability that is at least five-eighths (\5/8\) 
inch in diameter and be securely fastened to the locomotive with one-
half (\1/2\) inch or larger bolts or rivets;
    (ii) Be located not less than thirty (30) inches nor more than fifty 
(50) inches above the top of rail with its outer end not more than 16 
inches from the side of the locomotive; on units with a high snowplow 
that makes normal end handhold location inaccessible, end handhold shall 
be located on top of plow blade, with the center of the handhold not 
more than fifty-three (53) inches above the top of rail, and be in line 
with the slope of the plow blade;
    (iii) Be at least fourteen (14) inches long; and
    (iv) Provide at least two (2) inches, preferably two and one-half 
(2\1/2\) inches, usable hand clearance throughout its entire length.
    (2) An uncoupling lever may also serve as a horizontal end handhold 
if it complies with the requirements of this paragraph. When an 
uncoupling lever also serves as the horizontal end handhold, it is 
considered to be securely fastened if its securement brackets are 
attached to the locomotive by one-half (\1/2\) inch or larger bolts or 
rivets and its movement between those brackets is limited to the 
rotation necessary for performance of the uncoupling function.

[[Page 435]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC01AP91.007


[[Page 436]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TC01AP91.008


[41 FR 37783, Sept. 8, 1976]