(a) Unless otherwise specified, this subpart does not apply to the handling of rail cars, transport vehicles, freight containers, or bulk packagings, which contain Division 1.6, combustible liquids, Division 6.1 PG III materials, or Class 9 materials.
(b) A placarded rail car, transport vehicle, freight container, or bulk package may not be transported in a passenger train.
[Amdt. 174-68, 55 FR 52680, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66281, Dec. 20, 1991; 57 FR 45464, Oct. 1, 1992; Amdt. 174-74, 58 FR 51533, Oct. 1, 1993; 87 FR 79783, Dec. 27, 2022]
(a) In switching operations where the use of hand brakes is necessary—
(1) It must be determined by trial whether a loaded, placarded car, or a car occupied by a rider in a draft containing a placarded car, has its hand brakes in proper working condition before it is cut off;
(2) A loaded, placarded tank car or a draft which includes a loaded placarded tank car may not be cut off until the preceding rail car clears the ladder track; and
(3) A loaded, placarded tank car or a draft which includes a loaded placarded tank car must clear the ladder track before another rail car is allowed to follow.
(b) Any loaded rail car placarded for a Division 1.1 or Division 1.2 explosive, a Division 2.3 Hazard Zone A gas or a Division 6.1 PG I Hazard Zone A material, or a Class DOT 113 tank car displaying a Division 2.1 (flammable gas) placard, including a Class DOT 113 tank car containing only a residue of a Division 2.1 material, may not be:
(1) Cut off while in motion;
(2) Coupled into with more force than is necessary to complete the coupling; or
(3) Struck by any car moving under its own momentum.
(c) A placarded flatcar, or a flatcar carrying a placarded transport vehicle, freight container, or bulk packaging under this subchapter may not be cut off while in motion.
(d) No rail car moving under its own momentum may be permitted to strike any placarded flatcar or any flatcar carrying a placarded transport vehicle, freight container, or bulk packaging.
(e) No placarded flatcar or any flatcar carrying a placarded transport vehicle, freight container, or bulk packaging may be coupled into with more force than is necessary to complete the coupling.
(f) When transporting a rail car, transport vehicle, or freight container placarded for Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive) materials in a terminal, yard, or on a side track or siding, the placarded rail car must be separated from the engine by at least one non-placarded rail car and must be placed in a location so that it will be safe from danger of fire. A rail car, transport vehicle, or freight container placarded for Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive) materials may not be placed under a bridge or overhead crossing, or in or alongside a passenger shed or station, except during transfer operations.
[Amdt. 174-68, 55 FR 52680, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66281, Dec. 20, 1991; Amdt. 174-75, 58 FR 50237, Sept. 24, 1993; Amdt. 174-77, 59 FR 48549, Sept. 21, 1994; Amdt. 174-83, 61 FR 51339, Oct. 1, 1996; 66 FR 45383, Aug. 28, 2001]
A rail car placarded in Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive); Division 2.3 (Hazard Zone A; poisonous gas); or Division 6.1 (PG I, Hazard Zone A; poisonous liquid) in a moving or standing train must be next to and ahead of any car occupied by the guards or technical escorts accompanying the placarded rail car. However, if a rail car occupied by the guards or technical escorts has temperature control equipment in operation, it must be the fourth car behind any car requiring Division 1.1 or 1.2 (explosive) placards.
[Amdt. 174-68, 55 FR 52680, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 66281, Dec. 20, 1991; 66 FR 45383, Aug. 28, 2001]
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, the position in a train of each loaded placarded car, transport vehicle, freight container, and bulk packaging must conform to the provisions of this section.
(b) A car placarded “RADIOACTIVE” must comply with train positioning requirements of paragraph (d) of this section and must be separated from a locomotive, occupied caboose, or carload of undeveloped film by at least one non-placarded car.
(c) A tank car containing the residue of a hazardous material must be separated from a locomotive or occupied caboose by at least one rail car other than a placarded tank car.
(d) Position of rail cars in a train. In the following table:
Position in Train of Placarded Cars Transporting Hazardous Materials
| RESTRICTIONS
| Placard Group 1
| Placard Group 2
| Placard Group 3
| Placard Group 4
|
|---|
| Rail Car
| Tank Car
| Rail Car
| Tank Car
| Rail Car
| Rail Car
|
|---|
| 1. When train length permits, placarded car may not be nearer than the sixth car from the engine or occupied caboose | X | X | | X
| | |
| 2. When train length does not permit, placarded car must be placed near the middle of the train, but not nearer than the second car from an engine or occupied caboose | X | X | | X
| | |
| 3. A placarded car may not be placed next to an open-top car when any of the lading in the open top car protrudes beyond the car ends, or if the lading shifted, would protrude beyond the car ends. | X | X | | X
| | |
| 4. A placarded car may not be placed next to a loaded flat car, except closed TOFC/COFC equipment, auto carriers, and other specially equipped cars with tie-down devices for securing vehicles. Permanent bulk head flat cars are considered the same as open-top cars | X | X | | X
| | |
| 5. A placarded car may not be placed next to any transport vehicle or freight container having an internal combustion engine or an open-flame device in operation. | X | X | | X
| | |
| 6. Placarded cars may not be placed next to each other based on the following:
| | | | | | |
| Placard Group 1 | | X | X | X | X | X
|
| Placard Group 2 | X | | | X | X | X
|
| Placard Group 3 | X | X | X | | | X
|
| Placard Group 4 | X | X | X | X | X
| |
(1) Where an “X” appears at the intersection of a Placard Group column and a Restriction row, the corresponding restriction applies.
(2) “Rail Car” means a car other than a tank car.
(3) For purposes of this subpart, each unit of an articulated intermodal rail car shall be considered as one car.
[Amdt. 174-68, 55 FR 52680, Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at 57 FR 45464, Oct. 1, 1992; Amdt. 174-83, 61 FR 28678, June 5, 1996; Amdt.174-83, 61 FR 50255, Sept. 25, 1996; Amdt. 174-83, 61 FR 51339, Oct. 1, 1996; 64 FR 51919, Sept. 27, 1999; 66 FR 45383, Aug. 28, 2001]
(a) For molten metals and molten glass shipped in packagings other than those prescribed in § 173.247 of this subchapter, the maximum allowable operating speed may not exceed 24 km/hour (15 mph) for shipments by rail.
(b) For trains transporting any loaded, placarded tank cars containing a material poisonous by inhalation, the maximum allowable operating speed may not exceed 80.5 km/hour (50 mph) for shipments by rail.
[74 FR 1801, Jan. 13, 2009]