§ 213.51 49 CFR Ch. II (10–1–10 Edition)

(1) Along the right-of-way, and Subpart C—Track Geometry (2) At highway-rail crossings; (This paragraph (b)(2) is applicable Sep- § 213.51 Scope. tember 21, 1999.) This subpart prescribes requirements (c) Interfere with railroad employees for the gage, alinement, and surface of performing normal trackside duties; track, and the elevation of outer rails (d) Prevent proper functioning of sig- and speed limitations for curved track. nal and communication lines; or (e) Prevent railroad employees from § 213.53 Gage. visually inspecting moving equipment (a) Gage is measured between the from their normal duty stations. heads of the rails at right-angles to the rails in a plane five-eighths of an inch below the top of the rail head. (b) Gage shall be within the limits prescribed in the following table—

Class of track The gage must be at least— But not more than—

Excepted track ...... N/A ...... 4′101⁄4″. Class 1 track ...... 4′8″ ...... 4′10″. Class 2 and 3 track ...... 4′8″ ...... 4′93⁄4″. Class 4 and 5 track ...... 4′8″ ...... 4′91⁄2″.

§ 213.55 Alinement. Alinement may not deviate from uni- formity more than the amount pre- scribed in the following table:

Tangent track Curved track The deviation of The deviation of The deviation of the mid-offset the mid-ordinate the mid-ordinate Class of track from a 62-foot from a 31-foot from a 62-foot line 1 may not be chord 2 may not chord 2 may not more than— be more than— be more than— (inches) (inches) (inches)

Class 1 track ...... 5 3 N/A 5 Class 2 track ...... 3 3 N/A 3 Class 3 track ...... 13⁄4 11⁄4 13⁄4 Class 4 track ...... 11⁄2 1 11⁄2 Class 5 track ...... 3⁄4 1⁄2 5⁄8 1 The ends of the line shall be at points on the gage side of the line rail, five-eighths of an inch below the top of the railhead. Either rail may be used as the line rail, however, the same rail shall be used for the full length of that tangential segment of track. 2 The ends of the chord shall be at points on the gage side of the outer rail, five-eighths of an inch below the top of the rail- head. 3 N/A—Not Applicable.

§ 213.57 Curves; elevation and speed (b)(1) The maximum allowable oper- limitations. ating speed for each curve is deter- (a) The maximum crosslevel on the mined by the following formula— outside rail of a curve may not be more E + 3 than 8 inches on track Classes 1 and 2 V = a and 7 inches on Classes 3 through 5. Ex- max 0. 0007D cept as provided in § 213.63, the outside Where— rail of a curve may not be lower than the inside rail. (The first sentence of Vmax = Maximum allowable operating speed (miles per hour). paragraph (a) is applicable September 21, 1999.)

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Ea = Actual elevation of the outside rail (3) The track owner shall notify the (inches). 1 Federal Railroad Administrator no less D = Degree of curvature (degrees). 2 than 30 calendar days prior to the pro- (2) Table 1 of appendix A is a table of posed implementation of the higher maximum allowable operating speed curving speeds allowed under the for- computed in accordance with this for- mula in paragraph (c) of this section. mula for various elevations and degrees The notification shall be in writing and of curvature. shall contain, at a minimum, the fol- (c)(1) For rolling stock meeting the lowing information— requirements specified in paragraph (d) (i) A complete description of the of this section, the maximum operating class of equipment involved, including speed for each curve may be deter- schematic diagrams of the suspension mined by the following formula— systems and the location of the center of gravity above top of rail; (ii) A complete description of the test E + 4 V = a procedure 3 and instrumentation used max 0. 0007D to qualify the equipment and the max- imum values for wheel unloading and Where— roll angles which were observed during Vmax = Maximum allowable operating speed testing; (miles per hour). (iii) Procedures or standards in effect Ea = Actual elevation of the outside rail (inches). 1 which relate to the maintenance of the D = Degree of curvature (degrees). 2 suspension system for the particular class of equipment; and (2) Table 2 of appendix A is a table of (iv) Identification of line segment on maximum allowable operating speed which the higher curving speeds are computed in accordance with this for- proposed to be implemented. mula for various elevations and degrees (e) A track owner, or an operator of a of curvature. passenger or commuter service, who (d) Qualified equipment may be oper- provides passenger or commuter serv- ated at curving speeds determined by ice over trackage of more than one the formula in paragraph (c) of this track owner with the same class of section, provided each specific class of equipment may provide written notifi- equipment is approved for operation by cation to the Federal Railroad Admin- the Federal Railroad Administration istrator with the written consent of and the railroad demonstrates that: the other affected track owners. (1) When positioned on a track with a (f) Equipment presently operating at uniform 4-inch superelevation, the roll curving speeds allowed under the for- angle between the floor of the equip- mula in paragraph (c) of this section, ment and the horizontal does not ex- by reason of conditional waivers grant- ceed 5.7 degrees; and ed by the Federal Railroad Administra- (2) When positioned on a track with a tion, shall be considered to have suc- uniform 6 inch superelevation, no cessfully complied with the require- wheel of the equipment unloads to a ments of paragraph (d) of this section. value of 60 percent of its static value (g) A track owner or a railroad oper- on perfectly level track, and the roll ating above Class 5 speeds, may request angle between the floor of the equip- approval from the Federal Railroad Ad- ment and the horizontal does not ex- ministrator to operate specified equip- ceed 8.6 degrees. ment at a level of cant deficiency greater than four inches in accordance 1 Actual elevation for each 155 foot track with § 213.329(c) and (d) on curves in segment in the body of the curve is deter- mined by averaging the elevation for 10 3 The test procedure may be conducted in a points through the segment at 15.5 foot spac- test facility whereby all the wheels on one ing. If the curve length is less than 155 feet, side (right or left) of the equipment are al- average the points through the full length of ternately raised and lowered by 4 and 6 the body of the curve. inches and the vertical wheel loads under 2 Degree of curvature is determined by each wheel are measured and a level is used averaging the degree of curvature over the to record the angle through which the floor same track segment as the elevation. of the equipment has been rotated.

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Class 1 through 5 track which are con- least once every 90-day period with not tiguous to the high speed track pro- less than 30 days interval between in- vided that— spections. The instrumented car or the (1) The track owner or railroad sub- portable device shall monitor a lat- mits a test plan to the Federal Rail- erally-oriented accelerometer placed road Administrator for approval no less near the end of the vehicle at the floor than thirty calendar days prior to any level. If the carbody lateral accelera- proposed implementation of the higher tion measurement exceeds the safety curving speeds. The test plan shall in- limits prescribed in paragraph (g)(1), clude an analysis and determination of the railroad shall operate trains at carbody acceleration safety limits for curving speeds in accordance with each vehicle type which indicate wheel paragraph (b) or (c) of this section; and unloading of 60 percent in a steady (5) The track owner or railroad shall state condition and 80 percent in a maintain a copy of the most recent ex- transient (point by point) condition. ception printouts for the inspections Accelerometers shall be laterally-ori- required under paragraphs (g)(3) and (4) ented and floor-mounted near the end of this section. of a representative vehicle of each type; [63 FR 34029, June 22, 1998; 63 FR 54078, Oct. (2) Upon FRA approval of a test plan, 8, 1998] the track owner or railroad conducts § 213.59 Elevation of curved track; incrementally increasing train speed runoff. test runs over the curves in the identi- fied track segment(s) to demonstrate (a) If a curve is elevated, the full ele- that wheel unloading is within the lim- vation shall be provided throughout its prescribed in paragraph (g)(1) of this the curve, unless physical conditions section; do not permit. If elevation runoff oc- (3) Upon FRA approval of a cant defi- curs in a curve, the actual minimum ciency level, the track owner or rail- elevation shall be used in computing road inspects the curves in the identi- the maximum allowable operating fied track segment with a Track Geom- speed for that curve under § 213.57(b). etry Measurement System (TGMS) (b) Elevation runoff shall be at a uni- qualified in accordance with § 213.333 (b) form rate, within the limits of track through (g) at an inspection frequency surface deviation prescribed in § 213.63, of at least twice annually with not less and it shall extend at least the full than 120 days interval between inspec- length of the spirals. If physical condi- tions; and tions do not permit a spiral long (4) The track owner or railroad oper- enough to accommodate the minimum ates an instrumented car having dy- length of runoff, part of the runoff may namic response characteristics that are be on tangent track. representative of other equipment as- signed to service or a portable device § 213.63 Track surface. that monitors on-board instrumenta- Each owner of the track to which tion on trains over the curves in the this part applies shall maintain the identified track segment at the rev- surface of its track within the limits enue speed profile at a frequency of at prescribed in the following table:

Class of track Track surface 1 2 3 4 5 (inches) (inches) (inches) (inches) (inches)

The runoff in any 31 feet of rail at the end of a raise may not be more than...... 31⁄2 3 2 11⁄2 1 The deviation from uniform profile on either rail at the mid-ordinate of a 62-foot chord may not be more than ...... 3 23⁄4 21⁄4 2 11⁄4 The deviation from zero crosslevel at any point on tangent or re- verse crosslevel elevation on curves may not be more than ...... 3 2 13⁄4 11⁄4 1 The difference in crosslevel between any two points less than 62 feet apart may not be more than* 1,2 ...... 3 21⁄4 2 13⁄4 11⁄2

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