§ 213.143 - Frog guard rails and guard faces; gage.

§ 213.143 Frog guard rails and guard faces; gage.

(a) The guard check and guard face gages in frogs shall be within the following limits

prescribed in the following table -

-

Table 1 to § 213.143(a)

Class of track	Guard check gage	Guard face gage
	The distance between the gage line of a frog to the guard line1 of its guard rail or guarding face, measured across the track at right angles to the gage line,2

,

may not be less than -

Guard face gage

The distance between guard lines,¹

,

measured across the track at right angles to the gage line,²

,

may not be more than -
Class 1 track	4′61⁄8″

4′ 5

4′51⁄4″
Class 2 track	4′61⁄4″

4′ 5

4′51⁄8″

Class 3 and 4 track

4′ 6

4′63⁄8″	4′51⁄8″
Class 5 track	3 4′61⁄2″

4′ 5″

4′5″

¹ A line along that side of the flangeway which is nearer to the center of the track and at the same elevation as the gage line.

² A line

5⁄8

five-eighths of an inch below the top of the center line of the head of the running rail, or corresponding location of the tread portion of the track structure.

³ See paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) For any heavy-point frog (HPF) on Class 5 track, the guard check gage may be less than 4′61⁄2″ but not be less than 4′63⁄8″, provided that:

(1) Each HPF and guard rails on both rails through the turnout are equipped with at least three serviceable through-gage plates with elastic rail fasteners and guard rail braces that permit adjustment of the guard check gage without removing spikes or other fasteners from the crossties; and

(2) Each HPF bears an identifying mark applied by either the track owner, railroad, or the frog manufacturer that identifies the frog as an HPF.

[85 FR 63388, Oct. 7, 2020]