49 C.F.R. § 238.231 Brake system.
Title 49 - Transportation
Except as otherwise provided in this section, on or after September 9, 1999 the following requirements apply to all passenger equipment and passenger trains. (a) A passenger train's primary brake system shall be capable of stopping the train with a service application from its maximum authorized operating speed within the signal spacing existing on the track over which the train is operating. (b) The brake system design of passenger equipment ordered on or after September 8, 2000 or placed in service for the first time on or after September 9, 2002, shall not require an inspector to place himself or herself on, under, or between components of the equipment to observe brake actuation or release. (c) Passenger equipment shall be provided with an emergency brake application feature that produces an irretrievable stop, using a brake rate consistent with prevailing adhesion, passenger safety, and brake system thermal capacity. An emergency brake application shall be available at any time, and shall be initiated by an unintentional parting of the train. (d) A passenger train brake system shall respond as intended to signals from a train brake control line or lines. Control lines shall be designed so that failure or breakage of a control line will cause the brakes to apply or will result in a default to control lines that meet this requirement. (e) Introduction of alcohol or other chemicals into the air brake system of passenger equipment is prohibited. (f) The operating railroad shall require that the design and operation of the brake system results in wheels that are free of condemnable cracks. (g) Disc brakes shall be designed and operated to produce a surface temperature no greater than the safe operating temperature recommended by the disc manufacturer and verified by testing or previous service. (h) Hand brakes and parking brakes. (1) Except for a locomotive that is ordered before September 8, 2000 or placed in service for the first time before Sepbember 9, 2002, and except for MU locomotives, all locomotives shall be equipped with a hand or parking brake that can: (i) Be applied or activated by hand; (ii) Be released by hand; and (iii) Hold the loaded unit on the maximum grade anticipated by the operating railroad. (2) Except for a private car and locomotives addressed in paragraph (h)(1) of this section, all other passenger equipment, including MU locomotives, shall be equipped with a hand brake that meets the requirements for hand brakes contained in part 231 of this chapter and that can: (i) Be applied or activated by hand; (ii) Be released by hand; and (iii) Hold the loaded unit on the maximum grade anticipated by the operating railroad. (3) The air brake shall not be depended upon to hold equipment standing unattended on a grade (including a locomotive, a car, or a train whether or not a locomotive is attached). When required, a sufficient number of hand brakes shall be applied to hold the train or equipment before the air brakes are released. Any hand brakes applied to hold equipment shall not be released until it is known that the air brake system is properly charged. (i) Passenger cars shall be equipped with a means to apply the emergency brake that is accessible to passengers and located in the vestibule or passenger compartment. The emergency brake shall be clearly identified and marked. (j) Locomotives ordered after September 8, 2000, or placed in service for the first time after September 9, 2002, that are equipped with blended brakes shall be designed so that: (1) The blending of friction and dynamic brake to obtain the correct retarding force is automatic; (2) Loss of power or failure of the dynamic brake does not result in exceeding the allowable stopping distance; (3) The friction brake alone is adequate to safely stop the train under all operating conditions; and (4) Operation of the friction brake alone does not result in thermal damage to wheels or disc rotor surface temperatures exceeding the manufacturer's recommendation. (k) For new designs of braking systems, the design process shall include computer modeling or dynamometer simulation of train braking that shows compliance with paragraphs (f) and (g) of this section over the range of equipment operating speeds. A new simulation is required prior to implementing a change in operating parameters. (l) Locomotives ordered on or after September 8, 2000 or placed in service for the first time on or after September 9, 2002, shall be equipped with effective air coolers or dryers that provide air to the main reservoir with a dew point at least 10 degrees F. below ambient temperature. (m) When a passenger train is operated in either direct or graduated release— (1) all the cars in the train consist shall be set up in the same operating mode or (2) up to two cars may be operated in direct release mode when the rest of the cars in the train are operated in graduated release mode, provided that the cars operated in direct release mode are hauled at the rear of the train consist. (n) Before adjusting piston travel or working on brake rigging, the cutout cock in the brake pipe branch must be closed and the air reservoirs must be voided of all compressed air. When cutout cocks are provided in brake cylinder pipes, these cutout cocks may be closed, and air reservoirs need not be voided of all compressed air. (o) All passenger trains to which this part applies shall comply with the requirements covering the use of two-way end-of-train devices contained in part 232 of this chapter. [64 FR 25660, May 12, 1999, as amended at 65 FR 41307, July 3, 2000]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 238—PASSENGER EQUIPMENT SAFETY STANDARDS
Subpart C—Specific Requirements for Tier I Passenger Equipment
§ 238.231 Brake system.
