49 C.F.R. § 213.333 Automated vehicle inspection systems.
Title 49 - Transportation
(a) For track Class 7, a qualifying Track Geometry Measurement System (TGMS) vehicle shall be operated at least twice within 120 calendar days with not less than 30 days between inspections. For track Classes 8 and 9, it shall be operated at least twice within 60 days with not less than 15 days between inspections. (b) A qualifying TGMS shall meet or exceed minimum design requirements which specify that— (1) Track geometry measurements shall be taken no more than 3 feet away from the contact point of wheels carrying a vertical load of no less than 10,000 pounds per wheel; (2) Track geometry measurements shall be taken and recorded on a distance-based sampling interval which shall not exceed 2 feet; and (3) Calibration procedures and parameters are assigned to the system which assure that measured and recorded values accurately represent track conditions. Track geometry measurements recorded by the system shall not differ on repeated runs at the same site at the same speed more than 1/8 inch. (c) A qualifying TGMS shall be capable of measuring and processing the necessary track geometry parameters, at an interval of no more than every 2 feet, which enables the system to determine compliance with: §213.323, Track gage; §213.327, Alinement; §213.329, Curves; elevation and speed limitations; and §213.331, Track surface. (d) A qualifying TGMS shall be capable of producing, within 24 hours of the inspection, output reports that— (1) Provide a continuous plot, on a constant-distance axis, of all measured track geometry parameters required in paragraph (c) of this section; (2) Provide an exception report containing a systematic listing of all track geometry conditions which constitute an exception to the class of track over the segment surveyed. (e) The output reports required under paragraph (c) of this section shall contain sufficient location identification information which enable field forces to easily locate indicated exceptions. (f) Following a track inspection performed by a qualifying TGMS, the track owner shall, within two days after the inspection, field verify and institute remedial action for all exceptions to the class of track. (g) The track owner shall maintain for a period of one year following an inspection performed by a qualifying TGMS, copy of the plot and the exception printout for the track segment involved, and additional records which: (1) Specify the date the inspection was made and the track segment involved; and (2) Specify the location, remedial action taken, and the date thereof, for all listed exceptions to the class. (h) For track Classes 8 and 9, a qualifying Gage Restraint Measurement System (GRMS) shall be operated at least once annually with at least 180 days between inspections to continuously compare loaded track gage to unloaded gage under a known loading condition. The lateral capacity of the track structure shall not permit a gage widening ratio (GWR) greater than 0.5 inches. (i) A GRMS shall meet or exceed minimum design requirements which specify that— (1) Gage restraint shall be measured between the heads of the rail— (i) At an interval not exceeding 16 inches; (ii) Under an applied vertical load of no less than 10,000 pounds per rail; (iii) Under an applied lateral load which provides for lateral/vertical load ratio of between 0.5 and 1.257 7 GRMS equipment using load combinations developing L/V ratios which exceed 0.8 shall be operated with caution to protect against the risk of wheel climb by the test wheelset. S = L −cV
where: S = Load severity, defined as the lateral load applied to the fastener system (pounds). L = Actual lateral load applied (pounds). c = Coefficient of friction between rail/tie which is assigned a nominal value of (0.4). V = Actual vertical load applied (pounds). (2) The measured gage value shall be converted to a gage widening ratio (GWR) as follows:
Where: UTG=Unloaded track gage measured by the GRMS vehicle at a point no less than 10 feet from any lateral or vertical load application. LTG=Loaded track gage measured by the GRMS vehicle at the point of application of the lateral load. L=Actual lateral load applied (pounds). (j) At least one vehicle in one train per day operating in Classes 8 and 9 shall be equipped with functioning on-board truck frame and carbody accelerometers. Each track owner shall have in effect written procedures for the notification of track personnel when on-board accelerometers on trains in Classes 8 and 9 indicate a possible track-related condition. (k) For track Classes 7 , 8 and 9, an instrumented car having dynamic response characteristics that are representative of other equipment assigned to service or a portable device that monitors on-board instrumentation on trains shall be operated over the track at the revenue speed profile at a frequency of at least twice within 60 days with not less than 15 days between inspections. The instrumented car or the portable device shall monitor vertically and laterally oriented accelerometers placed near the end of the vehicle at the floor level. In addition, accelerometers shall be mounted on the truck frame. If the carbody lateral, carbody vertical, or truck frame lateral safety limits in the following table of vehicle/track interaction safety limits are exceeded, speeds will be reduced until these safety limits are not exceeded. (l) For track Classes 8 and 9, an instrumented car having dynamic response characteristics that are representative of other equipment assigned to service shall be operated over the track at the revenue speed profile annually with not less than 180 days between inspections. The instrumented car shall be equipped with functioning instrumented wheelsets to measure wheel/rail forces. If the wheel/rail force limits in the following table of vehicle/track interaction safety limits are exceeded, speeds will be reduced until these safety limits are not exceeded. (m) The track owner shall maintain a copy of the most recent exception printouts for the inspections required under paragraphs (k) and (l) of this section.
1 The lateral and vertical wheel forces shall be measured with instrumented wheelsets with the measurements processed through a low pass filter with a minimum cut-off frequency of 25 Hz. The sample rate for wheel force data shall be at least 250 samples/sec. 2 Carbody lateral and vertical accelerations shall be measured near the car ends at the floor level. 3 Truck accelerations in the lateral direction shall be measured on the truck frame. The measurements shall be processed through a filter having a pass band of 0.5 to 10 Hz. 4 Truck hunting is defined as a sustained cyclic oscillation of the truck which is evidenced by lateral accelerations in excess of 0.4 g root mean square (mean-removed) for 2 seconds. [63 FR 34029, June 22, 1998; 63 FR 46102, Aug. 28, 1998]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 213—TRACK SAFETY STANDARDS
Subpart G—Train Operations at Track Classes 6 and Higher
§ 213.333 Automated vehicle inspection systems.
