§ 232.23 - Operations requiring use of two-way end-of-train devices; prohibition on purchase of nonconforming devices.

(a) The following definitions are intended solely for the purpose of identifying those operations subject to the requirements for the use of two-way end-of-train devices.

(1) Heavy grade means:

(i) For a train operating with 4,000 trailing tons or less, a section of track with an average grade of two percent or greater over a distance of two continuous miles; and

(ii) For a train operating with greater than 4,000 trailing tons, a section of track with an average grade of one percent or greater over a distance of three continuous miles.

(2) Train means one or more locomotives coupled with one or more rail cars, except during switching operations or where the operation is that of classifying cars within a railroad yard for the purpose of making or breaking up trains.

(3) Local train means a train assigned to perform switching en route which operates with 4,000 trailing tons or less and travels between a point of origin and a point of final destination, for a distance that is no greater than that which can normally be operated by a single crew in a single tour of duty.

(4) Work train means a non-revenue service train of 4,000 trailing tons or less used for the administration and upkeep service of the railroad.

(5) Trailing tons means the sum of the gross weights—expressed in tons—of the cars and the locomotives in a train that are not providing propelling power to the train.

(b) All trains not specifically excepted in paragraph (e) of this section shall be equipped with and shall use either a two-way end-of-train device meeting the design and performance requirements contained in § 232.21 or a device using an alternative technology to perform the same function.

(c) Each newly manufactured end-of-train device purchased by a railroad after (one year from date of publication) shall be a two-way end-of-train device meeting the design and performance requirements contained in § 232.21 or a device using an alternative technology to perform the same function.

(d) Each two-way end-of-train device purchased by any person prior to promulgation of these regulations shall be deemed to meet the design and performance requirements contained in § 232.21.

(e) Exceptions. The following types of trains are excepted from the requirement for the use of a two-way end-of-train device:

(1) Trains with a locomotive capable of making an emergency brake application, through a command effected by telemetry or by a crew member in radio contact with the lead (controlling) locomotive, located in the rear third of the train length;

(2) Trains operating in the push mode with the ability to effectuate an emergency brake application from the rear of the train;

(3) Trains with an operational caboose placed at the rear of the train, carrying one or more crew members, that is equipped with an emergency brake valve;

(4) Trains operating with a secondary, fully independent braking system capable of safely stopping the train in the event of failure of the primary system;

(5) Trains that do not operate over heavy grades and do not exceed 30 mph;

(6) Local trains as defined in paragraph (a)(3) of this section that do not operate over heavy grades;

(7) Work trains as defined in paragraph (a)(4) of this section that do not operate over heavy grades;

(8) Trains that operate exclusively on track that is not part of the general railroad system;

(9) Passenger trains in which all of the cars in the train are equipped with an emergency brake valve readily accessible to a crew member;

(10) Passenger trains that have a car at the rear of the train, readily accessible to one or more crew members in radio contact with the engineer, that is equipped with an emergency brake valve readily accessible to such a crew member; and

(11) Passenger trains that have twenty-four (24) or fewer cars (not including locomotives) in the consist and that are equipped and operated in accordance with the following train-configuration and operating requirements:

(i) If the total number of cars in a passenger train consist is twelve (12) or fewer, a car located no less than halfway through the consist (counting from the first car in the train) must be equipped with an emergency brake valve readily accessible to a crew member;

(ii) If the total number of cars in a passenger train consist is thirteen (13) to twenty-four (24), a car located no less than two-thirds (2/3) of the way through the consist (counting from the first car in the train) must be equipped with an emergency brake valve readily accessible to a crew member;

(iii) Prior to descending a section of track with an average grade of two percent or greater over a distance of two continuous miles, the engineer of the train shall communicate with the conductor, to ensure that a member of the crew with a working two-way radio is stationed in the car with the rearmost readily accessible emergency brake valve on the train when the train begins its descent; and

(iv) While the train is descending a section of track with an average grade of two percent or greater over a distance of two continuous miles, a member of the train crew shall occupy the car that contains the rearmost readily accessible emergency brake valve on the train and be in constant radio communication with the locomotive engineer. The crew member shall remain in this car until the train has completely traversed the heavy grade.

(f) If a train is required to use a two-way end-of-train device:

(1) That device shall be armed and operable from the time a train departs from the point where the device is installed until the train reaches its destination.

(2) The rear unit batteries shall be sufficiently charged at the initial terminal or other point where the device is installed and throughout the train's trip to ensure that the end-of train-device will remain operative until the train reaches its destination.

(g) En route failure of device on a freight or other non-passenger train. Except on passenger trains required to be equipped with a two-way end-of-train device (which are provided for in paragraph (h) of this section), en route failures of a two-way end-of-train device shall be handled in accordance with this paragraph. If a two-way end-of-train device or equivalent device fails en route (i.e., is unable to initiate an emergency brake application from the rear of the train due to certain losses of communication or due to other reasons), the speed of the train on which it is installed shall be limited to 30 mph until the ability of the device to initiate an emergency brake application from the rear of the train is restored. This limitation shall apply to a train using any device that uses an alternative technology to serve the purpose of a two-way end-of-train device. With regard to two-way end-of-train devices, a loss of communication between the front and rear units will be considered an en route failure only if the loss of communication is for a period greater than 16 minutes and 30 seconds.

(1) If a two-way end-of-train device fails en route, the train on which it is installed, in addition to observing the 30-mph speed limitation, shall not operate over a section of track with an average grade of two percent or greater over a distance of two continuous miles, unless one of the following alternative measures is provided:

(i) Use of an occupied helper locomotive at the end of the train. This alternative may be used only if the following requirements are met:

(A) The helper locomotive engineer will initiate and maintain two-way voice radio communication with the engineer on the head end of the train; this contact shall be verified just prior to passing the crest the grade.

(B) If there is a loss of communication prior to passing the crest of the grade, the helper locomotive engineer and the head-end engineer shall act immediately to stop the train until voice communication is resumed, if this can be done safely.

(C) If there is a loss of communication once the descent has begun, the helper locomotive engineer and the head-end engineer shall act to stop the train if the train has reached a predetermined rate of speed that indicates the need for emergency braking.

(D) The brake pipe of the helper locomotive shall be connected and cut into the train line and tested to ensure operation.

(ii) Use of an occupied caboose at the end of the train with a tested, functioning brake valve capable of initiating an emergency brake application from the caboose. This alternative may be used only if the train service employee in the caboose and the engineer on the head end of the train establish and maintain two-way voice radio communication and respond appropriately to the loss of such communication in the same manner as prescribed for helper locomotives in paragraph (g)(1)(i) of this section.

(iii) Use of a radio-controlled locomotive in the rear third of the train under continuous control of the engineer in the head end by means of telemetry, but only if such radio-controlled locomotive is capable of initiating an emergency application on command from the lead (controlling) locomotive.

(2) [Reserved]

(h) En route failure of device on a passenger train. (1) A passenger train required to be equipped with a two-way end-of-train device that develops an en route failure of the device (as explained in paragraph (g) of this section) shall not operate over a section of track with an average grade of two percent or greater over a distance of two continuous miles until an operable two-way end-of-train device is installed on the train or an alternative method of initiating an emergency brake application from the rear of the train is achieved.

(2) Except as provided in paragraph (h)(1) of this section, a passenger train required to be equipped with a two-way end-of-train device that develops an en route failure of the device (as explained in paragraph (g) of this section) shall be operated in accordance with the following:

(i) A member of the train crew shall be immediately positioned in the car which contains the rearmost readily accessible emergency brake valve on the train and shall be equipped with an operable two-way radio that communicates with the locomotive engineer; and

(ii) The locomotive engineer shall periodically make running tests of the train's air brakes until the failure is corrected; and

(3) Each en route failure shall be corrected at the next location where the necessary repairs can be conducted or at the next location where a required brake test is to be performed, whichever is reached first.