RELATED MATERIALS EXCERPTS FROM THE UNITED STATES CODE: Safety Appliance Acts Ash Pan Act Locomotive Inspection Act Block Signal Systems Inspection and Testing of Railroad Cars and Appliances EXCERPTS FROM UNITED STATES CODE SAFETY APPLIANCE ACTS TITLE 45-RAILROADS CHAPTER 1.-SAFETY APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT ON RAILROAD ENGINES AND CARS, AND PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEES AND TRAVELERS Sec. 1. Driving-wheel brakes and appliances for operating train-brake system. 2. Automatic couplers. 3. Refusal of insufficiently equipped cars from connecting lines. 4. Grab irons or handholds for security in coupling and uncoupling cars. 30. Powers and duties of inspectors, and provisions of certain sections applicable to all parts of locomotive and tender; examinations of inspectors. 31. Annual report of director. 32. Report by carrier to director as to accident; preservation of disabled parts; investigation and report thereupon. 33. Reports by commission of investigations. 34. Penalty for violations by carrier; duty of United States attorney to sue therefor; director to give informaiion. 35. Investigation and report by commission on block-signal systems and applicances for automatic control of trains; evidence. 36. Investigation and testing by commission of appliances or systems to promote safety. 37. Inspection of mail cars. 38. Monthly reports of railroad accidents; duty of carrier to make. 39. Penalty for failure to make report. 40. Investigation by commission of accidents; cooperation with State commissions; reports of investigations. 41. Reports not evidence in suits for damages. 42. Form of reports. 43. Terms "interstate commerce" and "foreign commerce" defined. 44. Medals of honor for persons saving lives on railroads. 45. Rosettes and ribbons. 46. Payment of expenses. All functions, powers, and duties in the administration and enforcement of the provisions of law set forth in this appendix were transferred to the Secretary of Transportation by section 6 of the Department of Transportation Act. § 1. Driving-wheel brakes and appliances for operating trainbrake system It shall be unlawful for any common carrier engaged in interstate commerce by railroad to use on its line any locomotive engine in moving interstate traffic not equipped with a power driving-wheel brake and appliances for operating the train-brake system, or to run any train in such traffic that has not a sufficient number of cars in it so equipped with power or train brakes that the engineer on the locomotive drawing such train can control its speed without requiring brakemen to use the common hand brake for that purpose. Mar. 2, 1893, c. 196, § 1, 27 Stat. 531. § 2. Automatic couplers It shall be unlawful for any common carrier engaged in interstate commerce by railroad to haul or permit to be hauled or used on its line any car used in moving interstate traffic not equipped with couplers coupling automatically by impact, and which can be uncoupled without the necessity of men going between the ends of the cars. Mar. 2, 1893, c. 196, § 2, 27 Stat. 531. § 3. Refusal of insufficiently equipped cars from connecting lines When any person, firm, company, or corporation engaged in interstate commerce by railroad shall have equipped a sufficient number of its cars so as to comply with the provisions of section 1 of this title, it may lawfully refuse to receive from connecting lines of road or shippers any cars not equipped sufficiently, in accordance with said section, with such power or train brakes as will work and readily interchange with the brakes in use on its own cars, as required by sections 1-7 of this title. Mar. 2, 1893, c. 196, § 3, 27 Stat. 531. § 4. Grab irons or handholds for security in coupling and uncoupling cars Until otherwise ordered by the Interstate Commerce Commission, it shall be unlawful for any railroad company to use any car in interstate commerce that is not provided with secure grab irons or handholds in the ends and sides of each car for greater security to men in coupling and uncoupling cars. Mar. 2, 1893, c. 196, § 4, 27 Stat. 531. § 5. Standard height of drawbars for freight cars; noncomplying cars excluded from traffic No freight cars, either loaded or unloaded, shall be used in interstate traffic which do not comply with the prescribed standard as to height of drawbars. Mar. 2, 1893, c. 196, § 5, 27 Stat. 531. § 6. Failure to equip cars as provided; duty of United States attorneys and Secretary of Transportation; exceptions from operation of provisions Any common carrier engaged in interstate commerce by railroad using any locomotive engine, running any train, or hauling or permitting to be hauled or used on its line any car in violation of any of the provisions of sections 1-7 of this title, shall be liable to a penalty of not less than $250 and not more than $2,500 for each and every such violation, to be recovered in a suit or suits to be brought by the United States attorney in the district court of the United States having jurisdiction in the locality where such violation shall have been committed; and it shall be the duty of such United States attorney to bring such suits upon duly verified information being lodged with him of such violation having occurred; and it shall also be the duty of the Secretary of Transportation to lodge with the proper United States attorneys information of any such violations as may come to his knowledge : Provided, That nothing in sections 1-7 of this title shall apply to trains composed of four-wheel cars or to trains composed of eightwheel standard logging cars where the height of such car from top of rail to center of coupling does not exceed twenty-five inches, or to locomotives used in hauling such trains when such cars or locomotives are exclusively used for the transportation of logs. As amended Aug. 14, 1957, Pub.L. 85-135, § 1(1), 71 Stat. 352. § 7. Assumption of risk by employees Any employee of any common carrier engaged in interstate commerce by railroad who may be injured by any locomotive, car, or train in use contrary to the provision of sections 1-7 of this title shall not be deemed thereby to have assumed the risk thereby occasioned, although continuing in the employment of such carrier after the unlawful use of such locomotive, car, or train had been brought to his knowledge. Mar. 2, 1893, c. 196, § 8, 27 Stat. 532. § 8. Provisions of certain sections extended The provisions and requirements of sections 1-7 of this title shall be held to apply to common carriers by railroads in the Territories and the District of Columbia and shall apply in all cases, whether or not the couplers brought together are of the same kind, make, or type; and the provisions and requirements relating to train brakes, automatic couplers, grab irons, and the height of drawbars shall be held to apply to all trains, locomotives, tenders, cars, and similar vehicles used on any railroad engaged in interstate commerce, and in the Territories and the District of Columbia, and to all other locomotives, tenders, cars, and similar vehicles used in connection therewith, excepting those trains, cars, and locomotives exempted by the provisions of section 6 of this title, or which are used upon street railways. Mar. 2, 1903, c. 976, § 1, 32 Stat. 943. 89. Power or train brakes; operation by engineer; rules for installation, inspection, maintenance, and repair Whenever, as provided in sections 1-7 of this title, any train is operated with power or train brakes not less than 50 per centum of the cars in such train shall have their brakes used and operated by the engineer of the locomotive drawing such train; and all power-braked cars in such train which are associated together with said 50 per centum shall have their brakes so used and operated; and, to more fully carry into effect the objects of said sections, the Secretary of Transportation may, from time to time, after full hearing, increase the minimum percentage of cars in any train required to be operated with power or train brakes which must have their brakes used and operated as afore |