49 C.F.R. § 229.27 Annual tests.
Title 49 - Transportation
A locomotive, except for a DMU or MU locomotive, shall be subjected to the tests and inspections prescribed in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section. A DMU locomotive or an MU locomotive shall be subjected to the tests and inspections prescribed in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. A locomotive, including a DMU locomotive or an MU locomotive, equipped with a microprocessor-based event recorder that includes a self-monitoring feature, shall be subjected to the tests and inspections prescribed in paragraph (d) of this section. All testing under this section shall be performed at intervals that do not exceed 368 calendar days. (a)(1) The filtering devices or dirt collectors located in the main reservoir supply line to the air brake system shall be cleaned, repaired, or replaced. (2) Brake cylinder relay valve portions, main reservoir safety valves, brake pipe vent valve portions, feed and reducing valve portions in the air brake system (including related dirt collectors and filters) shall be cleaned, repaired, and tested. (3) The date and place of the cleaning, repairing, and testing shall be recorded on Form FRA F 6180–49A and the person performing the work and that person's supervisor shall sign the form. A record of the parts of the air brake system that are cleaned, repaired, and tested shall be kept in the carrier's files or in the cab of the locomotive. (4) At its option, a carrier may fragment the work required by this paragraph. In that event, a separate air record shall be maintained under a transparent cover in the cab. The air record shall include the locomotive number, a list of the air brake components, and the date and place of the last inspection and test of each component. The signature of the person performing the work and the signature of that person's supervisor shall be included for each component. A duplicate record shall be maintained in the carrier's files. (b) The load meter shall be tested. Each device used by the engineer to aid in the control or braking of the train or locomotive that provides an indication of air pressure electronically shall be tested by comparison with a test gauge or self-test designed for this purpose. An error of greater than five percent or three pounds per square inch shall be corrected. The date and place of the test shall be recorded on Form FRA F 6180–49A, and the person conducting the test and that person's supervisor shall sign the form. (c) Each steam generator that is not isolated as prescribed in §229.23(b), shall be subjected to a hydrostatic pressure at least 25 percent above the working pressure and the visual return water-flow indicator shall be removed and inspected. (d) A microprocessor-based event recorder with a self-monitoring feature equipped to verify that all data elements required by this part are recorded, requires further maintenance only if either or both of the following conditions exist: (1) The self-monitoring feature displays an indication of a failure. If a failure is displayed, further maintenance and testing must be performed until a subsequent test is successful. When a successful test is accomplished, a record, in any medium, shall be made of that fact and of any maintenance work necessary to achieve the successful result. This record shall be available at the location where the locomotive is maintained until a record of a subsequent successful test is filed. (2) A download of the event recorder, taken within the preceding 30 days and reviewed for the previous 48 hours of locomotive operation, reveals a failure to record a regularly recurring data element or reveals that any required data element is not representative of the actual operations of the locomotive during this time period. If the review is not successful, further maintenance and testing shall be performed until a subsequent test is successful. When a successful test is accomplished, a record, in any medium, shall be made of that fact and of any maintenance work necessary to achieve the successful result. This record shall be kept at the location where the locomotive is maintained until a record of a subsequent successful test is filed. The download shall be taken from information stored in the certified crashworthy crash hardened event recorder memory module if the locomotive is so equipped. [45 FR 21109, Mar. 31, 1980, as amended at 66 FR 4192, Jan. 17, 2001; 70 FR 37940, June 30, 2005]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 229—RAILROAD LOCOMOTIVE SAFETY STANDARDS
Subpart B—Inspections and Tests
§ 229.27 Annual tests.
