[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR179.14]

[Page 1063-1064]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
   CHAPTER I--PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, 
                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 179_SPECIFICATIONS FOR TANK CARS--Table of Contents
 
                  Subpart B_General Design Requirements
 
Sec.  179.14  Coupler vertical restraint system.

    (a) Performance standard. Each tank car shall be equipped with 
couplers capable of sustaining, without disengagement or material 
failure, vertical loads of at least 200,000 pounds (90,718.5 kg) applied 
in upward and downward directions in combination with buff loads of 
2,000 pounds (907.2 kg), when coupled to cars which may or may not be 
equipped with couplers having this vertical restraint capability.
    (b) Test verification. Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this 
section, compliance with the requirements of paragraph (a) of this 
section shall be achieved by verification testing of the coupler 
vertical restraint system in accordance with paragraph (c) of this 
section.
    (c) Coupler vertical restraint tests. A coupler vertical restraint 
system shall be tested under the following conditions:
    (1) The test coupler shall be tested with a mating coupler (or 
simulated coupler) having only frictional vertical force resistance at 
the mating interface; or a mating coupler (or simulated coupler) having 
the capabilities described in paragraph (a) of this section;
    (2) The testing apparatus shall simulate the vertical coupler 
performance at the mating interface and may not interfere with coupler 
failure or otherwise inhibit failure due to force applications and 
reactions; and
    (3) The test shall be conducted as follows:
    (i) A minimum of 200,000 pounds (90,718.5 kg) vertical downward load 
shall be applied continuously for at least 5 minutes to the test coupler 
head simultaneously with the application of a nominal 2,000 pounds 
(907.2 kg) buff load;
    (ii) The procedures prescribed in paragraph (c)(3)(i) of this 
section, shall be repeated with a minimum vertical upward load of 
200,000 pounds (90,718.5 kg); and
    (iii) A minimum of three consecutive successful tests shall be 
performed for each load combination prescribed in paragraphs (c)(3) (i) 
and (ii) of this section. A test is successful when a vertical 
disengagement or material failure does not occur during the application 
of any of the loads prescribed in this paragraph.
    (d) Authorized couplers. As an alternative to the test verifications 
in paragraph (c) of this section, the following couplers are authorized:
    (1) E double shelf couplers designated by the Association of 
American Railroads' Catalog Nos., SE60CHT, SE60CC, SE60CHTE, SE60CE, 
SE60DC, SE60DE, SE67CC, SE67CE, SE67BHT, SE67BC, SE67BHTE, SE67BE, 
SE68BHT, SE68BC, SE68BHTE, SE68BE, SE69AHTE, and SE69AE.
    (2) F double shelf couplers designated by the Association of 
American Railroads' Catalog Nos., SF70CHT, SF70CC, SF70CHTE, SF70CE, 
SF73AC, SF73AE,

[[Page 1064]]

SF73AHT, SF73AHTE, SF79CHT, SF79CC, SF79CHTE, and SF79CE.

[Amdt. 179-42, 54 FR 38797, Sept. 20, 1989]