[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: 49CFR234.273] [Page 493-495] TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PART 234--GRADE CROSSING SIGNAL SYSTEM SAFETY--Table of Contents Subpart D--Maintenance, Inspection, and Testing Sec. 234.273 Results of inspections and tests. (a) Results of inspections and tests made in compliance with this part shall be recorded on forms provided by the railroad, or by electronic means, subject to approval by the Associate Administrator for Safety. Each record shall show the name of the railroad, AAR/DOT inventory number, place and date, equipment tested, results of tests, repairs, replacements, adjustments made, and condition in which the apparatus was left. (b) Each record shall be signed or electronically coded by the employee making the test and shall be filed in the office of a supervisory official having jurisdiction. Records required to be kept shall be made available to FRA as provided by 49 U.S.C. 20107 (formerly Sec. 208 of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970 (45 U.S.C. 437)). (c) Each record shall be retained until the next record for that test is filed but in no case for less than one year from the date of the test. Appendix A to Part 234--Schedule of Civil Penalties \1\ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Willful Section Violation violation ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subpart B--Reports 234.7 Accidents involving grade crossing $5,000 $7,500 signal failure............................... 234.9 Grade crossing signal system failure 2,500 5,000 reports...................................... [[Page 494]] Subpart C--Response to Reports of Warning System Malfunction Sec. 234.101 Employee notification rules........... 2,500 5,000 234.103 Timely response to report of 2,500 5,000 malfunction.................................. 234.105 Activation failure (a) Failure to notify--train crews.... 5,000 7,500 Other railroads................... 5,000 7,500 (b) Failure to notify law enforcement 2,500 5,000 agency............................... (c) Failure to comply with--flagging 5,000 5,000 requirements......................... Speed restrictions................ 5,000 7,500 (d) Failure to activate horn or 5,000 7,500 whistle.............................. 234.106 Partial activation (a) Failure to notify--train crews.... 5,000 7,500 Other railroads................... 5,000 7,500 (b) Failure to notify law enforcement 2,500 5,000 agency............................... (c) Failure to comply with--flagging 5,000 7,500 requirements speed restrictions...... (d) Failure to activate horn or 5,000 7,500 whistle.............................. 234.107 False activation (a) Failure to notify--train crews.... 5,000 7,500 Other railroads................... 5,000 7,500 (b) Failure to notify law enforcement 2,500 5,000 agency............................... (c) Failure to comply with--flagging 5,000 7,500 requirements......................... Speed restrictions................ 5,000 7,500 (d) Failure to activate horn or 5,000 7,500 whistle.............................. 234.109 Recordkeeping..................... 1,000 2,000 Subpart D--Maintenance, Inspection, and Testing Maintenance Standards: 234.201 Location of plans................. 1,000 2,000 234.203 Control circuits.................. 1,000 2,000 234.205 Operating characteristics of 2,500 5,000 warning system apparatus................. 234.207 Adjustment, repair, or replacement 2,500 5,000 of component............................. 234.209 Interference with normal 5,000 7,500 functioning of system.................... 234.211 Locking of warning system 1,000 2,000 apparatus................................ 234.213 Grounds........................... 1,000 2,000 234.215 Standby power system.............. 5,000 7,500 234.217 Flashing light units.............. 1,000 2,000 234.219 Gate arm lights and light cable... 1,000 2,000 234.221 Lamp voltage...................... 1,000 2,000 234.223 Gate arm.......................... 1,000 2,000 234.225 Activation of warning system...... 5,000 7,500 234.227 Train detection apparatus......... 2,500 5,000 234.229 Shunting sensitivity.............. 2,500 5,000 234.231 Fouling wires..................... 1,000 2,000 234.233 Rail joints....................... 1,000 2,000 234.235 Insulated rail joints............. 1,000 2,000 234.237 Switch equipped with circuit 1,000 2,000 controller............................... 234.239 Tagging of wires and interference 1,000 2,000 of wires or tags with signal apparatus... 234.241 Protection of insulated wire; 1,000 2,000 splice in underground wire............... 234.243 Wire on pole line and aerial cable 1,000 2,000 234.245 Signs............................. 1,000 2,000 Inspections and Tests: 234.247 Purpose of inspections and tests; 2,500 5,000 removal from service of relay or device failing to meet test requirements........ 234.249 Ground tests...................... 2,500 5,000 234.251 Standby power..................... 5,000 7,500 234.253 Flashing light units and lamp 1,000 2,000 voltage.................................. 234.255 Gate arm and gate mechanism....... 1,000 2,000 234.257 Warning system operation.......... 2,500 5,000 234.259 Warning time...................... 1,000 2,000 234.261 Highway traffic signal pre-emption 1,000 2,000 234.263 Relays............................ 1,000 2,000 234.265 Timing relays and timing devices.. 1,000 2,000 234.267 Insulation resistance tests, wires 2,500 5,000 in trunking and cables................... 234.269 Cut-out circuits.................. 1,000 2,000 234.271 Insulated rail joints, bond wires, 2,500 5,000 and track connections.................... 234.273 Results of tests.................. 1,000 2,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ A penalty may be assessed against an individual only for a willful violation. The Administrator reserves the right to assess a penalty of up to $22,000 for any violation where circumstances warrant. See 49 CFR Part 209, Appendix A. [61 FR 31806, June 20, 1996, as amended at 63 FR 11623, Mar. 10, 1998] [[Page 495]] Appendix B to Part 234--Alternate Methods of Protection Under 49 CFR 234.105(c), 234.106, and 234.107(c) [This is a summary--see body of text for complete requirements] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flagger present, Flagger for each Police officer but not one for No flagger/no direction of present each direction of police traffic traffic ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- False Activation................ Normal Speed...... Normal Speed...... Proceed with Proceed with caution--maximum caution--maximum speed of 15 mph. speed of 15 mph. Partial Activation*............. Normal Speed...... Normal Speed...... Proceed with Proceed with caution--maximum caution--maximum speed of 15 mph. speed of 15 mph. Activation Failure**............ Normal Speed...... Normal Speed...... Proceed with Stop: Crewmember caution--maximum flag traffic and speed of 15 mph. reboard. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Partial activiation--full warning not given. Non-gated crossing with one pair of lights designed to flash alternatively, one light does not work (and back- lights from other side not visible). Gated crossing--gate arm not horizontal; or any portion of a gate arm is missing if that portion had held a gate arm flashing light. **Activitation failure includes--if more than 50% of the flashing lights on any approach lane not functioning; or if an approach lane has two or more pairs of flashing lights, there is not at least one pair operating as intended.