Making Synapses · Bringing Knowledge to Mankind
RailwayNever tampering with a locomotive safety device
The controlling locomotive carries safety devices mounted on it. You do not tamper with them, and you do not knowingly operate, or let anyone operate, a train with one of them disabled without authorization. It is one of the kinds of conduct that revoke a locomotive engineer's certificate, through the suspension and hearing the federal rule sets.
Free to startScenarios
- Before the train moves, at the controls of the controlling locomotive.
- A safety device of the controlling locomotive is disabled without authorization.
- The railroad receives reliable information of a violation and suspends the certificate.
The steps
- Do not tamper with any locomotive mounted safety device. Critical point
- Do not knowingly operate, or permit to be operated, a train with an unauthorized disabled safety device in the controlling locomotive. Critical point
- Follow the prohibitions of 49 CFR Part 218, Subpart D, and its Appendix C.
- If your certificate is suspended: you receive notice of the reason and of a hearing before a presiding officer other than the investigating officer; you take the hearing or waive it in writing and signed.
Safety rules that stop the station
- Tampering with a locomotive mounted safety device, or knowingly running a train with an unauthorized disabled one, is unlawful and revokes the certificate.
To pass
- No tampering, and no train run with an unauthorized disabled safety device.
- One incident revokes the certificate for 30 days; two within 24 months, 180 days; three within 36 months, one year; four within 36 months, three years.
- The hearing is convened within 10 days of the suspension unless the engineer asks for or agrees to a delay; the written decision comes no later than 10 days after the record closes, and the suspension before the hearing counts toward the revocation.
- No revocation if an intervening cause prevented or materially impaired compliance; the railroad may also decide not to revoke a minimal violation with no effect on rail safety.
- No suspension or revocation when the engineer reported the event to C3RS as a close call and it was accepted as one.
Official source
Federal · FRA, 49 CFR 240.117, 240.305 and 240.307
49 CFR Part 240: Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers
The eCFR publishes 49 CFR Part 240 free: 240.305 lists the conduct that is unlawful for an engineer and 240.117 how long each case costs the certificate.
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