[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 49, Volume 4] [Revised as of October 1, 2005] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 49CFR231.31] [Page 520-522] TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PART 231_RAILROAD SAFETY APPLIANCE STANDARDS--Table of Contents Sec. 231.31 Drawbars for freight cars; standard height. (a) Except on cars specified in paragraph (b) of this section-- (1) On standard gage (56\1/2\-inch gage) railroads, the maximum height of drawbars for freight cars (measured perpendicularly from the level of the tops of the rails to the centers of the drawbars) shall be 34\1/2\ inches, and the minimum height of drawbars for freight cars on such standard gage railroads (measured in the same manner) shall be 31\1/2\ inches. (2) On 36-inch gage railroads, the maximum height of drawbars for freight cars (measured perpendicularly from the level of the tops of the rails to the centers of the drawbars) shall be 26 inches, and the minimum height of drawbars for freight cars on such 36-inch gage railroads (measured in the same manner) shall be 23 inches. (3) On 24-inch gage railroads, the maximum height of drawbars for freight cars (measured perpendicularly from the level of the tops of the rails to the centers of the drawbars) shall be 17\1/2\ inches, and the minimum height of drawbars for freight cars on 24-inch gage railroads (measured in the same manner) shall be 14\1/2\ inches. (4) On railroads operating on track with a gage other than those contained in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3) of this section, the maximum and minimum height of drawbars for freight cars operating on those railroads shall be established upon written approval of FRA. (b) This section shall not apply to a railroad all of whose track is less than 24 inches in gage. [66 FR 4192, Jan. 17, 2001] Appendix A to Part 231--Schedule of Civil Penalties \1\ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Willful FRA safety appliance defect code section \2\ Violation violation ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 110.A1 Hand Brake or Hand Brake Part Missing.. $5,000 $7,500 110.A2 Hand Brake or Hand Brake Part Broken... 5,000 7,500 110.A3 Hand Brake or Hand Brake Part Loose or 2,500 5,000 Worn......................................... 110.B1 Hand Brake Inoperative................. 5,000 7,500 [[Page 521]] 110.B2 Hand Brake Inefficient................. 2,500 5,000 110.B3 Hand Brake Improperly Applied.......... 2,500 5,000 110.B4 Hand Brake Incorrectly located......... 2,500 5,000 110.B5 Hand Brake Shaft Welded or Wrong 2,500 5,000 Dimension.................................... 110.B6 Hand Brake Shaft Not Retained in 2,500 5,000 Operating Position........................... 110.B8 Hand Brake or Hand Brake Parts Wrong 2,500 5,000 Design....................................... 114.B2 Hand Brake Wheel or Lever Has 2,500 5,000 Insufficient Clearance Around Rim or Handle.. 114.B3 Hand Brake Wheel/Lever Clearance 2,500 5,000 Insufficient to Vertical Plane Through Inside Face of Knuckle.............................. 120.A1 Brake Step Missing Except by Design.... 5,000 7,500 120.A2 Brake Step or Brace Broken or Decayed.. 2,500 5,000 120.A3 Brake Step or Brace Loose.............. 2,500 5,000 120.B1 Brake Step or Brace Bent............... 2,500 5,000 120.B2 Brake Step or Wrong Dimensions......... 2,500 5,000 120.C1 Brake Step Improperly Applied.......... 2,500 5,000 120.C2 Brake Step Improperly Located.......... 2,500 5,000 120.C3 Brake Step With Less Than 4 2,500 5,000 Clearance to Vertical Plane Through Inside Face of Knuckle.............................. 120.C4 Brake Step Obstructed or Otherwise 2,500 5,000 Unsafe....................................... 124.A1 Running Board Missing or Part Missing 5,000 7,500 Except By Design............................. 124.A2 Running Board Broken or Decayed........ 5,000 7,500 124.A3 Running Board Loose Presents a Tripping 2,500 5,000 Hazard or Other Unsafe Condition............. 124.A4 Running Board Wrong Material........... 2,500 5,000 124.B1 Running Board Bent to the Extent that 2,500 5,000 It is Unsafe................................. 124.B2 Running Board Wrong Dimensions......... 2,500 5,000 124.B3 Running Board Wrong Location........... 2,500 5,000 124.C1 Running Board Improperly Applied....... 2,500 5,000 124.C2 Running Board Obstructed............... 2,500 5,000 126.A1 End Platform Missing or Part Except By 5,000 7,500 Design....................................... 126.A2 End Platform Broken or Decayed......... 5,000 7,500 126.A3 End Platform Loose..................... 2,500 5,000 126.B1 End Platform or Brace Bent............. 2,500 5,000 126.B2 End Platform Wrong Dimensions.......... 2,500 5,000 126.C1 End Platform Improperly Applied........ 2,500 5,000 126.C2 End Platform With Less Than Required 2,500 5,000 Clearance to Vertical Plane Through Inside Knuckle...................................... 126.C3 End Platform Improperly Located........ 2,500 5,000 126.C4 End Platform Obstructed................ 5,000 7,500 128.A1 Platform or Switching Step Missing..... 5,000 7,500 128.A2 Platform or Switching Step Broken or 5,000 7,500 Decayed...................................... 128.A3 Platform or Switching Step Loose....... 2,500 5,000 128.B1 Platform or Switching Step Bent........ 2,500 5,000 128.B2 Platform or Switching Step Does Not 2,500 5,000 Meet the Required Location or Dimensions..... 128.C1 Platform or Switching Step Improperly 2,500 5,000 Applied or Repaired.......................... 128.C2 Platform or Switching Step Obstructed.. 2,500 5,000 128.D1 Switching Step Back Stop or Kick Plate 2,500 5,000 Missing...................................... 128.D2 Switching Step Not Illuminated When 2,500 5,000 Required..................................... 128.D3 Non-Illuminated Step Not Painted 1,000 2,000 Contrasting Color............................ 130.A1 Sill Step or Additional Tread, Missing. 5,000 7,500 130.A2 Sill Step or Additional Tread, Broken.. 5,000 7,500 130.A3 Sill Step or Additional Tread, Loose... 2,500 5,000 130.B1 Sill Step or Additional Tread, Bent.... 2,500 5,000 130.B2 Sill Step or Additional Tread, Having 2,500 5,000 Wrong Dimensions or Improperly Located....... 130.B3 Sill Step Improperly Applied........... 2,500 5,000 132.A1 Side Missing Step...................... 5,000 7,500 132.A2 Side Door Step Broken.................. 5,000 7,500 132.A3 Side Door Step Loose................... 2,500 5,000 132.B1 Side Door Step Bent.................... 2,500 5,000 132.B2 Side Door Step Having Wrong Dimensions. 2,500 5,000 134.A1 Ladder Missing......................... 5,000 7,500 134.A2 Ladder Broken.......................... 5,000 7,500 134.A3 Ladder Loose........................... 2,500 5,000 134.B1 Ladder Bent............................ 2,500 5,000 134.B2 Ladder Having Wrong Dimensions......... 2,500 5,000 134.C1 Ladder Improperly Applied.............. 2,500 5,000 134.C2 Ladder Having Insufficient Clearance or 2,500 5,000 Improperly Located........................... 134.C3 Ladder Wrong Design.................... 2,500 5,000 134.C4 Ladder Wrong Material.................. 2,500 5,000 134.D1 End Clearance Insufficient............. 2,500 5,000 136.A1 Ladder Tread or Handholds Missing...... 5,000 7,500 136.A2 Ladder Tread or Handhold Broken........ 5,000 7,500 136.A3 Ladder Tread or Handhold Loose Except 2,500 5,000 By Design.................................... 136.B1 Ladder Tread or Handhold Bent to The 2,500 5,000 Extent That It May Be Unsafe................. [[Page 522]] 136.B2 Ladder Tread or Handhold Wrong 2,500 5,000 Dimensions................................... 136.C1 Ladder Tread or Handhold Improperly 2,500 5,000 Applied...................................... 136.C2 Ladder Tread or Handhold Having Wrong 2,500 5,000 Clearance.................................... 136.C3 Ladder or Handhold Improperly Located.. 2,500 5,000 136.C4 Ladder Tread or Handhold Obstructed.... 2,500 5,000 136.C5 Ladder Tread Without Footguards........ 2,500 5,000 138.A1 Hand or Safety Railing Missing......... 5,000 7,500 138.A2 Hand or Safety Railing Broken.......... 5,000 7,500 138.A3 Hand or Safety Railing Loose Except by 2,500 5,000 Design....................................... 138.B1 Hand or Safety Railing Bent............ 2,500 5,000 138.B2 Hand or Safety Railing Wrong Dimensions 2,500 5,000 138.C1 Hand or Safety Railing Improperly 2,500 5,000 Applied...................................... 138.C2 Hand or Safety Railing Having Less Than 2,500 5,000 the Required Clearance....................... 138.C3 Hand or Safety Railing Improperly 2,500 5,000 Located...................................... 140.A1 Uncoupling Lever Missing............... 2,500 5,000 140.A2 Uncoupling Lever Broken or Disconnected 2,500 5,000 140.B1 Uncoupling Lever Bent Will not Safely 2,500 5,000 and Reasonably Function As Intended.......... 140.C1 Uncoupling Lever Bracket Bent Lever 2,500 5,000 Will Not Function Properly................... 140.C2 Uncoupling Lever Bracket Broken or 2,500 5,000 Missing...................................... 140.D1 Uncoupling Lever Wrong Dimension....... 2,500 5,000 140.D2 Uncoupling Lever With Improper Handle 2,500 5,000 Clearance.................................... 144.A1 Coupler Missing........................ 5,000 7,500 144.B1 Coupler Height Incorrect............... 2,500 5,000 144.C1 Coupler Inoperative.................... 2,500 5,000 145.A1 Kick Plates Missing.................... 2,500 5,000 145.A2 Kick Plates Broken..................... 2,500 5,000 145.B1 Kick Plates Wrong Dimensions........... 2,500 5,000 145.B2 Kick Plates Improper Clearance......... 2,500 5,000 145.B3 Kick Plates Insecure Or Improperly 2,500 5,000 Applied...................................... 146.A Notice or Stencil not Posted on Cabooses 500 1,000 with Running Boards Removed.................. 146.B Safe Means not Provided to Clean or 1,000 2,000 Maintain Windows of Caboose.................. 231.31 Drawbars, standard height.............. 2,500 5,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \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 $27,000 for any violation where circumstances warrant. See 49 CFR part 209, appendix A. \2\ This schedule uses section numbers from FRA's Safety Appliance Defect Code, a restatement of the CFR text in a reorganized format. For convenience, and as an exception to FRA's general policy, penalty citations will cite the defect code rather than the CFR. FRA reserves the right, should litigation become necessary, to substitute in its complaint the CFR and/or statutory citation in place of the defect code section cited in the penalty demand letter. [53 FR 52933, Dec. 29, 1988, as amended at 63 FR 11623, Mar. 10, 1998; 66 FR 4193, Jan. 17, 2001]