49 Cfr 215

49 CFR 215

§215.11 Designated inspectors.

(a) Each railroad that operates railroad freight cars to which this part applies shall designate persons qualified to inspect railroad freight cars for compliance with this part and to make the determinations required by §215.9 of this part.

(b) Each person designated under this section shall have demonstrated to the railroad a knowledge and ability to inspect railroad freight cars for compliance with the requirements of this part and to make the determinations required by §215.9 of this part.

(c) With respect to designations under this section, each railroad shall maintain written records of:

(1) Each designation in effect; and

(2) The basis for each designation.

[45 FR 26710, Apr. 21, 1980]

§215.13   Pre-departure inspection.

(a) At each location where a freight car is placed in a train, the freight car shall be inspected before the train departs. This inspection may be made before or after the car is placed in the train.

(b) At a location where an inspector designated under §215.11 is on duty for the purpose of inspecting freight cars, the inspection required by paragraph (a) of this section shall be made by that inspector to determine whether the car is in compliance with this part.

(c) At a location where a person designated under §215.11 is not on duty for the purpose of inspecting freight cars, the inspection required by paragraph (a) shall, as a minimum, be made for those conditions set forth in appendix D to this part.

(d) Performance of the inspection prescribed by this section does not relieve a railroad of its liability under §215.7 for failure to comply with any other provision of this part.

[45 FR 26710, Apr. 21, 1980]

§215.103   Defective wheel.

A railroad may not place or continue in service a car, if—

(a) A wheel flange on the car is worn to a thickness of ⁷⁄₈ of an inch, or less, at a point ³⁄₈ of an inch above the tread of the wheel;

(b) The height of a wheel flange on the car, from the tread to the top of the flange, is 1¹⁄₂ inches, or more;

(c) The thickness of a rim of a wheel on the car is ¹¹⁄₁₆ of an inch, or less;

(d) A wheel rim, flange, plate, or hub area on the car has a crack or break;

(e) A wheel on the car has a chip or gouge in the flange that is 1¹⁄₂ inches in length and ¹⁄₂ inch in width, or more;

(f) A wheel on the car has—

(1) A slid flat or shelled spot that is more than 2¹⁄₂ inches in length; or

(2) Two adjoining flat or shelled spots each of which is more than two inches in length;

(g) A wheel on the car shows evidence of being loose such as oil seepage on the back hub or back plate;

(h) A wheel on the car shows signs of having been overheated as evidenced by a reddish brown discoloration, to a substantially equal extent on both the front and the back face of the rim, that extends on either face more than four inches into the plate area measured from the inner edge of the front or back face of the rim; or,

(i) A wheel on the car has been welded unless the car is being moved for repair in accordance with §215.9 of this part.

[44 FR 77340, Dec. 31, 1979, as amended at 50 FR 13382, Apr. 4, 1985]

Appendix D to Part 215—Pre-departure Inspection Procedure

At each location where a freight car is placed in a train and a person designated under §215.11 is not on duty for the purpose of inspecting freight cars, the freight car shall, as a minimum, be inspected for the imminently hazardous conditions listed below that are likely to cause an accident or casualty before the train arrives at its destination. These conditions are readily discoverable by a train crew member in the course of a customary inspection.

1. Car body:

(a) Leaning or listing to side.

(b) Sagging downward.

(c) Positioned improperly on truck.

(d) Object dragging below.

(e) Object extending from side.

(f) Door insecurely attached.

(g) Broken or missing safety appliance.

(h) Lading leaking from a placarded hazardous material car.

2. Insecure coupling.

3. Overheated wheel or journal.

4. Broken or extensively cracked wheel.

5. Brake that fails to release.

6. Any other apparent safety hazard likely to cause an accident or casualty before the train arrives at its destination.

[45 FR 26711, Apr. 21, 1980, as amended at 73 FR 79701, Dec. 30, 2008]

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