[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: 49CFR232.209]



[Page 543-544]

 

                        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 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



[[Page 544]]



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]