[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 4]
[Revised as of October 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR232.211]

[Page 593-594]
 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
       CHAPTER II--FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
                             TRANSPORTATION
 
PART 232_BRAKE SYSTEM SAFETY STANDARDS for FREIGHT and OTHER NON-PASSENGER 
 
              Subpart C_Inspection and Testing Requirements
 
Sec.  232.211  Class III brake tests-trainline continuity inspection.

    (a) A Class III brake test shall be performed on a train by a 
qualified person, as defined in Sec.  232.5, to test the train brake 
system when the configuration of the train has changed in certain ways. 
In particular, a Class III brake test shall be performed at the location 
where any of the following changes in the configuration of the train 
occur:
    (1) Where a locomotive or a caboose is changed;
    (2) Where a car or a block of cars is removed from the train with 
the consist otherwise remaining intact;
    (3) At a point other than the initial terminal for the train, where 
a car or a solid block of cars that is comprised of cars from only one 
previous train the cars of which have remained continuously and 
consecutively coupled together with the trainline remaining connected, 
other than for removing defective equipment, since being removed from 
its previous train that has previously received a Class I brake test and 
that has not been off air for more than four hours is added to a train;
    (4) At a point other than the initial terminal for the train, where 
a solid block of cars that is comprised of cars from a single previous 
train is added to a train, provided that the solid block of cars was 
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, and the cars have previously received a Class I brake 
test, have not been off air more than

[[Page 594]]

four hours, and the cars in each of the multiple blocks of cars have 
remained continuously and consecutively coupled together with the train 
line remaining connected, except for the removal of defective equipment. 
Furthermore, these multiple solid blocks of cars must be added to the 
train in the same relative order (no reclassification) as when removed 
from the previous train, except for the removal of defective equipment; 
or
    (5) At a point other than the initial terminal for the train, where 
a car or a solid block of cars that has received a Class I or Class II 
brake test at that location, prior to being added to the train, and that 
has not been off air for more than four hours is added to a train.
    (b) A Class III brake test shall consist of the following tasks and 
requirements:
    (1) The train 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 not be less than 60 psi, as indicated at the rear of the train by 
an accurate gauge or end-of-train device;
    (2) The brakes on the rear car of the train 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;
    (3) When the release is initiated, the brakes on the rear car of the 
train shall be inspected to verify that it did release; and
    (4) Before proceeding the operator of the train shall know that the 
brake pipe pressure at the rear of freight train is being restored.
    (c) As an alternative to the rear car brake application and release 
portion of the test, it shall be determined that the 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. If an electronic or radio 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) Whenever the continuity of the brake pipe is broken or 
interrupted with the train consist otherwise remaining unchanged, it 
must be determined that the brake pipe pressure of the train is being 
restored as indicated by a rear car gauge or end-of-train device prior 
to proceeding. In the absence of an accurate rear car gauge or end-of-
train telemetry device, it must be determined that the brakes on the 
rear car of the train apply and release in response to air pressure 
changes made in the controlling locomotive.

[66 FR 4193, Jan. 17, 2001, as amended at 67 FR 17583, Apr. 10, 2002]