49 C.F.R. § 238.211 Collision posts.
Title 49 - Transportation
(a) Except as further specified in this paragraph and paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section— (1) All passenger equipment placed in service for the first time on or after September 8, 2000 shall have either: (i) Two full-height collision posts, located at approximately the one-third points laterally, at each end. Each collision post shall have an ultimate longitudinal shear strength of not less than 300,000 pounds at a point even with the top of the underframe member to which it is attached. If reinforcement is used to provide the shear value, the reinforcement shall have full value for a distance of 18 inches up from the underframe connection and then taper to a point approximately 30 inches above the underframe connection; or (ii) An equivalent end structure that can withstand the sum of forces that each collision post in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section is required to withstand. For analysis purposes, the required forces may be assumed to be evenly distributed at the end structure at the underframe joint. (2) The requirements of this paragraph do not apply to unoccupied passenger equipment operating in a passenger train, or to the rear end of a locomotive if the end is unoccupied by design. (b) Each locomotive, including a cab car and an MU locomotive, ordered on or after September 8, 2000, or placed in service for the first time on or after September 9, 2002, shall have at its forward end, in lieu of the structural protection described in paragraph (a) of this section, either: (1) Two forward collision posts, located at approximately the one-third points laterally, each capable of withstanding: (i) A 500,000-pound longitudinal force at the point even with the top of the underframe, without exceeding the ultimate strength of the joint; and (ii) A 200,000-pound longitudinal force exerted 30 inches above the joint of the post to the underframe, without exceeding the ultimate strength; or (2) An equivalent end structure that can withstand the sum of the forces that each collision post in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section is required to withstand. (c) The end structure requirements in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section apply only to the ends of a semi-permanently coupled consist of articulated units, provided that: (1) The railroad submits to the FRA Associate Administrator for Safety under the procedures specified in §238.21 a documented engineering analysis establishing that the articulated connection is capable of preventing disengagement and telescoping to the same extent as equipment satisfying the anti-climbing and collision post requirements contained in this subpart; and (2) FRA finds the analysis persuasive. [64 FR 25660, May 12, 1999, as amended at 67 FR 19991, Apr. 23, 2002]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 238—PASSENGER EQUIPMENT SAFETY STANDARDS
Subpart C—Specific Requirements for Tier I Passenger Equipment
§ 238.211 Collision posts.
