49 C.F.R. § 213.109 Crossties.
Title 49 - Transportation
(a) Crossties shall be made of a material to which rail can be securely fastened. (b) Each 39 foot segment of track shall have— (1) A sufficient number of crossties which in combination provide effective support that will— (i) Hold gage within the limits prescribed in §213.53(b); (ii) Maintain surface within the limits prescribed in §213.63; and (iii) Maintain alinement within the limits prescribed in §213.55. (2) The minimum number and type of crossties specified in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section effectively distributed to support the entire segment; and (3) At least one crosstie of the type specified in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section that is located at a joint location as specified in paragraph (f) of this section. (c) Each 39 foot segment of: Class 1 track shall have five crossties; Classes 2 and 3 track shall have eight crossties; and Classes 4 and 5 track shall have 12 crossties, which are not: (1) Broken through; (2) Split or otherwise impaired to the extent the crossties will allow the ballast to work through, or will not hold spikes or rail fasteners; (3) So deteriorated that the tie plate or base of rail can move laterally more than (4) Cut by the tie plate through more than 40 percent of a ties' thickness. (d) Each 39 foot segment of track shall have the minimum number and type of crossties as indicated in the following table (this paragraph (d) is applicable September 21, 2000). (e) Crossties counted to satisfy the requirements set forth in the table in paragraph (d) of this section shall not be— (1) Broken through; (2) Split or otherwise impaired to the extent the crossties will allow the ballast to work through, or will not hold spikes or rail fasteners; (3) So deteriorated that the tie plate or base of rail can move laterally (4) Cut by the tie plate through more than 40 percent of a crosstie's thickness (this paragraph (e) is applicable September 21, 2000). (f) Class 1 and Class 2 track shall have one crosstie whose centerline is within 24 inches of each rail joint location, and Classes 3 through 5 track shall have one crosstie whose centerline is within 18 inches of each rail joint location or, two crossties whose centerlines are within 24 inches either side of each rail joint location. The relative position of these ties is described in the following diagrams: Each rail joint in Classes 1 and 2 track shall be supported by at least one crosstie specified in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section whose centerline is within 48&inch; shown above. Each rail joint in Classes 3 through 5 track shall be supported by either at least one crosstie specified in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section whose centerline is within 36&inch; shown above, or: Two crossties, one on each side of the rail joint, whose centerlines are within 24&inch; of the rail joint location shown above. (g) For track constructed without crossties, such as slab track, track connected directly to bridge structural components and track over servicing pits, the track structure shall meet the requirements of paragraphs (b)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section. [63 FR 34029, June 22, 1998; 63 FR 46102, Aug. 28, 1998]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 213—TRACK SAFETY STANDARDS
Subpart D—Track Structure
§ 213.109 Crossties.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Turnouts Tangent and track and curved Class of track curves track [le]2 over 2 degrees degrees------------------------------------------------------------------------Class 1 track..................................... 5 6Class 2 track..................................... 8 9Class 3 track..................................... 8 10Class 4 and 5 track............................... 12 14------------------------------------------------------------------------
