Login
or
Register
Home
»
Trains Magazine
»
Forums
»
General Discussion
»
Short train = no FRED?
Edit post
Edit your reply below.
Post Body
Enter your post below.
[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by jeffhergert</i> <br /><br />You don't need an acurate air gauge to operate outside of yard limits. The only times you need the air gauge is to perform Air Brake tests. <br /> The regs do require that one way and two way EOTs to be equipped with an air gauge. <br /> With the exception of certain trains, the regs require trains to be equipped to initiate an emergency application from the rear end. Can be a EOT, DPU or a manned caboose in radio contact with the head end. If the capability is lost, trains outside of heavy grade areas can continue to operate not exceeding 30mph until the capability is restored. <br /> One of the exempt type trains are local trains with less than 4000 trailing tons and operating over one crew district outside of heavy grade areas. <br /> Most time our way freights operate on the main line with only a red flag on the rear coupler. The conductor has a hand-held air gauge to perform the air brake tests when needed. <br /> Jeff <br />[/quote] <br /> <br />Jeff, <br /> <br />I am afraid that you are mistaken in regard to the need of an air guage. Federal law requires that ALL trains operating outside of yard limits must have an accurate air gauge WITHOUT EXCEPTION. I have confirmed this with an FRA field inspector. Any train operating without one is in direct violation of federal statute. <br /> <br />However, it is true that on certain types of trains on which you do not need 2-way EOT capabilities, you could get away with not having an air gauge connected on the rear of the train at all times, so long as long as the conductor has one somewhere on board that he can use when needed. In these cases, federal law still requires that a "highly-visible marker" be used on the end of trains from 1 hour before sunset to 1 hour after sunset. <br /> <br />The only exceptions to the air gauge and visible marker requirements are rail lines that are exempt from most or all FRA regulation, such as tourist only railroads or "landlocked" railroads.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag
Update Reply
Join our Community!
Our community is
FREE
to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Login »
Register »
Search the Community
Newsletter Sign-Up
By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our
privacy policy
More great sites from Kalmbach Media
Terms Of Use
|
Privacy Policy
|
Copyright Policy