Railroad - Switching Operations

Switching operations requirements for placarded rail cars, transport vehicles, freight containers, and bulk packagings are found in §174.83.

In switching operations where handbrakes are necessary, a loaded, placarded car or a car occupied by a rider in a draft containing a placarded car must:

• Be determined, by trial, whether its handbrakes are in proper working conditions before it is cut off.
• Not be cut off until the preceding rail car is allowed to follow.
• Clear the ladder track before another rail car is allowed to follow.

Loaded rail cars placarded under Division 1.1, 1.2, 2.3 Hazard Zone A gas, Division 6.1 PG I Hazard Zone A material, or a Class DOT 113 tank car displaying a Division 2.1 placard (even if it contains only a residue of Division 2.1 material) must not be:

• Cut off while in motion
• Coupled into with more than necessary force to complete the coupling
• Struck by any car moving under its own momentum

Additionally, placarded flatcars, a flatcar carrying placarded transport vehicles, a freight container, or bulk packaging must not be cut off while in motion.

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