[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 4]

[Revised as of October 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR232.207]



[Page 556-557]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 

                             TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 232_BRAKE SYSTEM SAFETY STANDARDS for FREIGHT and OTHER NON-

 

              Subpart C_Inspection and Testing Requirements

 

Sec.  232.207  Class IA brake tests--1,000-mile inspection.



    (a) Except as provided in Sec.  232.213, each train shall receive a 

Class IA brake test performed by a qualified person, as defined in Sec.  

232.5, at a location that is not more than 1,000 miles from the point 

where any car in the train last received a Class I or Class IA brake 

test. The most restrictive car or block of cars in the train shall 

determine the location of this test.

    (b) A Class IA brake test of a train 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 pursuant to the 

requirements contained in Sec.  232.205(c)(1);

    (2) The inspector shall position himself/herself, taking positions 

on each side of each car sometime during the inspection process, so as 

to be able to examine and observe the functioning of all moving parts of 

the brake system on each car in order to make the determinations and 

inspections required by this section;

    (3) 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 rear end of train;

    (4) The brakes on each car shall apply in response to a 20-psi brake 

pipe service reduction and shall remain applied until the release is 

initiated by 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 contained in Sec.  232.15, if applicable;



[[Page 557]]



    (5) Brake rigging shall be properly secured and shall not bind or 

foul or otherwise adversely affect the operation of the brake system; 

and

    (6) All parts of the brake equipment shall be properly secured.

    (c) A railroad shall designate the locations where Class IA brake 

tests will be performed, and the railroad shall furnish to the Federal 

Railroad Administration upon request a description of each location 

designated. A railroad shall notify FRA's Associate Administrator for 

Safety in writing 30 days prior to any change in the locations 

designated for such tests and inspections.

    (1) Failure to perform a Class IA brake test on a train at a 

location designated pursuant to this paragraph constitutes a failure to 

perform a proper Class IA brake test if the train is due for such a test 

at that location.

    (2) In the event of an emergency that alters normal train 

operations, such as a derailment or other unusual circumstance that 

adversely affects the safe operation of the train, the railroad is not 

required to provide prior written notification of a change in the 

location where a Class IA brake test is performed to a location not on 

the railroad's list of designated locations for performing Class IA 

brake tests, provided that the railroad notifies FRA's Associate 

Administrator for Safety and the pertinent FRA Regional Administrator 

within 24 hours after the designation has been changed and the reason 

for that change.



[66 FR 4193, Jan. 17, 2001, as amended at 67 FR 17582, Apr. 10, 2002]