[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: 49CFR232.209]

[Page 459-460]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 232--BRAKE SYSTEM SAFETY STANDARDS for FREIGHT and OTHER NON-PASSENGER TRAINS and EQUIPMENT; END-of-TRAIN DEVICES--Table of Contents
 
             Subpart C--Inspection and Testing Requirements
 
Sec. 232.209  Class II brake tests--intermediate inspection.

    (a) At a location other than the initial terminal of a train, a 
Class II brake test shall be performed by a qualified person, as defined 
in Sec. 232.5, on the following equipment when added to a train:
    (1) Each car or solid block of cars, as defined in Sec. 232.5, that 
has not previously received a Class I brake test or that has been off 
air for more than four hours;
    (2) Each solid block of cars, as defined in Sec. 232.5, that is 
comprised of cars from more than one previous train; and
    (3) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(4) of this section, each 
solid block of cars that is comprised of cars from only one previous 
train, the cars of which have not remained continuously and 
consecutively coupled together with the train line remaining connected 
since being removed from the previous train. A solid block of cars is 
considered to have remained continuously and consecutively coupled 
together with the train line remaining connected since being removed 
from the previous train if it has been changed only by removing 
defective equipment.
    (4) Each solid block of cars that is comprised of cars from a single 
previous train, the cars of which were required to be separated into 
multiple solid blocks of cars due to space or trackage constraints at a 
particular location when removed from the previous train, if they are 
not added in the same relative order as when removed from the previous 
train or if the cars in each of the multiple blocks of cars have not 
remained continuously and consecutively coupled together with the train 
line remaining connected, except for the removal of defective equipment.
    (b) A Class II brake test shall consist of the following tasks and 
requirements:
    (1) Brake pipe leakage shall not exceed 5 psi per minute, or air 
flow shall not exceed 60 cubic feet per minute (CFM). The brake pipe 
leakage test or air flow method test shall be conducted on the entire 
train pursuant to the requirements contained in Sec. 232.205(c)(1);
    (2) The air brake system shall be charged to the pressure at which 
the train will be operated, and the pressure at the rear of the train 
shall be within 15 psi of the pressure at which the train will be 
operated, but not less than 75 psi, as indicated by an accurate gauge or 
end-of-train device at the rear end of train;
    (3) The brakes on each car added to the train and on the rear car of 
the train shall be inspected to ensure that they apply in response to a 
20-psi brake pipe service reduction and remain applied until the release 
is initiated from the controlling locomotive. A car found with brakes 
that fail to apply or remain applied may be retested and remain in the 
train if the retest is conducted as prescribed in Sec. 232.205(c)(4); 
otherwise, the defective equipment may only be moved pursuant to the 
provisions of Sec. 232.15, if applicable;
    (4) When the release is initiated, the brakes on each car added to 
the train and on the rear car of the train shall be inspected to verify 
that they did release; this may be performed by a ``roll-by'' 
inspection. If a ``roll-by'' inspection of the brake release is 
performed, train speed shall not exceed 10 MPH, and the qualified person 
performing the ``roll-by'' inspection shall

[[Page 460]]

communicate the results of the inspection to the operator of the train; 
and
    (5) Before the train proceeds the operator of the train shall know 
that the brake pipe pressure at the rear of the train is being restored.
    (c) As an alternative to the rear car brake application and release 
portion of the test, the operator of the train shall determine that 
brake pipe pressure of the train is being reduced, as indicated by a 
rear car gauge or end-of-train telemetry device, and then that the brake 
pipe pressure of the train is being restored, as indicated by a rear car 
gauge or end-of-train telemetry device. (When an end-of-train telemetry 
device is used to comply with any test requirement in this part, the 
phrase ``brake pipe pressure of the train is being reduced'' means a 
pressure reduction of at least 5 psi, and the phrase ``brake pipe 
pressure of the train is being restored'' means a pressure increase of 
at least 5 psi). If an electronic communication link between a 
controlling locomotive and a remotely controlled locomotive attached to 
the rear end of a train is utilized to determine that brake pipe 
pressure is being restored, the operator of the train shall know that 
the air brakes function as intended on the remotely controlled 
locomotive.
    (d) Each car or solid block of cars that receives a Class II brake 
test pursuant to this section when added to the train shall receive a 
Class I brake test at the next forward location where facilities are 
available for performing such a test.

[66 FR 4193, Jan. 17, 2001, as amended at 67 FR 17583, Apr. 10, 2002]