How "legal" (FRA) are the steps recessed into the pilot corners on say, an Alco FA unit ? Ditto for the corresponding handrails. Thanks.

newhaven0401@verizon.net

I'll post the response and duck. How the FRA treats safety appliances kind of depends on which FRA inspector is doing the inspecting. Two inspectors can interpret the same regulation completely differently. For instance, how grab irons are fastened seems to be a current concern. More seriously, what has been acceptable for years can suddently become unacceptable. When we bought and brought six ex-METRA (ex CB&Q/BN)E8's from Chicago to Maryland MARC service, some years back, the local FRA man took exception to the grab irons on the front, even though they had been OK for decades running in the Chicago commuter service. We changed the grab irons to make the local guy happy. To be sure, check out the safety appliance requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations 49CFR229 (I'm calling the section from memory). They are pretty clear about how far off the top-of-rail, how wide, how big, etc.

prr8404@aol.com

> How "legal" (FRA) are the steps
> recessed into the pilot corners on say, an
> Alco FA unit ? Ditto for the corresponding
> handrails. Thanks.

Not sure about them, the local FRA rep may want them clad over. I only say this because all flat front locomotives that I have seen, that were built with front steps, have all been removed for non historical running.

It is very easy to hurt the brakeman, when coupling. If they are on side being coupled, they can and do get launched into the car, and tend to end up under the locomotive.

Take care,

Rich

rcizik5519@earthlink.net