[Title 49 CFR 213.343]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - October 1, 2006 Edition]
[Title 49 - TRANSPORTATION]
[Subtitle B - Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued)]
[Chapter II - FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF]
[Part 213 - TRACK SAFETY STANDARDS]
[Subpart G - Train Operations at Track Classes 6 and Higher]
[Sec. 213.343 - Continuous welded rail (CWR).]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
49TRANSPORTATION42006-10-012006-10-01falseContinuous welded rail (CWR).213.343Sec. 213.343TRANSPORTATIONOther Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued)FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OFTRACK SAFETY STANDARDSTrain Operations at Track Classes 6 and Higher
Sec. 213.343 Continuous welded rail (CWR).
Each track owner with track constructed of CWR shall have in effect
and comply with written procedures which address the installation,
adjustment, maintenance and inspection of CWR, and a training program
for the application of those procedures, which shall be submitted to the
Federal Railroad Administration by March 21, 1999. FRA reviews each plan
for compliance with the following--
(a) Procedures for the installation and adjustment of CWR which
include--
(1) Designation of a desired rail installation temperature range for
the geographic area in which the CWR is located; and
(2) De-stressing procedures/methods which address proper attainment
of the desired rail installation temperature range when adjusting CWR.
(b) Rail anchoring or fastening requirements that will provide
sufficient restraint to limit longitudinal rail and crosstie movement to
the extent practical, and specifically addressing CWR rail anchoring or
fastening patterns on bridges, bridge approaches, and at other locations
where possible longitudinal rail and crosstie movement associated with
normally expected train-induced forces, is restricted.
(c) Procedures which specifically address maintaining a desired rail
installation temperature range when cutting CWR including rail repairs,
in-track welding, and in conjunction with adjustments made in the area
of tight track, a track buckle, or a pull-apart. Rail repair practices
shall take into consideration existing rail temperature so that--
(1) When rail is removed, the length installed shall be determined
by taking into consideration the existing rail temperature and the
desired rail installation temperature range; and
(2) Under no circumstances should rail be added when the rail
temperature is below that designated by paragraph (a)(1) of this
section, without provisions for later adjustment.
(d) Procedures which address the monitoring of CWR in curved track
for inward shifts of alinement toward the center of the curve as a
result of disturbed track.
(e) Procedures which control train speed on CWR track when--
(1) Maintenance work, track rehabilitation, track construction, or
any other event occurs which disturbs the roadbed or ballast section and
reduces the lateral and/or longitudinal resistance of the track; and
(2) In formulating the procedures under this paragraph (e), the
track owner shall--
(i) Determine the speed required, and the duration and subsequent
removal of any speed restriction based on the restoration of the
ballast, along with sufficient ballast re-consolidation to stabilize the
track to a level that can accommodate expected train-induced forces.
Ballast re-consolidation can be achieved through either the passage of
train tonnage or mechanical stabilization procedures, or both; and
(ii) Take into consideration the type of crossties used.
(f) Procedures which prescribe when physical track inspections are
to be performed to detect buckling prone
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conditions in CWR track. At a minimum, these procedures shall address
inspecting track to identify--
(1) Locations where tight or kinky rail conditions are likely to
occur;
(2) Locations where track work of the nature described in paragraph
(e)(1) of this section have recently been performed; and
(3) In formulating the procedures under this paragraph (f), the
track owner shall--
(i) Specify the timing of the inspection; and
(ii) Specify the appropriate remedial actions to be taken when
buckling prone conditions are found.
(g) The track owner shall have in effect a comprehensive training
program for the application of these written CWR procedures, with
provisions for periodic re-training, for those individuals designated
under Sec. 213.305(c) of this part as qualified to supervise the
installation, adjustment, and maintenance of CWR track and to perform
inspections of CWR track.
(h) The track owner shall prescribe recordkeeping requirements
necessary to provide an adequate history of track constructed with CWR.
At a minimum, these records shall include:
(1) Rail temperature, location and date of CWR installations. This
record shall be retained for at least one year; and
(2) A record of any CWR installation or maintenance work that does
not conform with the written procedures. Such record shall include the
location of the rail and be maintained until the CWR is brought into
conformance with such procedures.
(i) As used in this section--
(1) Adjusting/de-stressing means the procedure by which a rail's
temperature is re-adjusted to the desired value. It typically consists
of cutting the rail and removing rail anchoring devices, which provides
for the necessary expansion and contraction, and then re-assembling the
track.
(2) Buckling incident means the formation of a lateral mis-alinement
sufficient in magnitude to constitute a deviation of 5 inches measured
with a 62-foot chord. These normally occur when rail temperatures are
relatively high and are caused by high longitudinal compressive forces.
(3) Continuous welded rail (CWR) means rail that has been welded
together into lengths exceeding 400 feet.
(4) Desired rail installation temperature range means the rail
temperature range, within a specific geographical area, at which forces
in CWR should not cause a buckling incident in extreme heat, or a pull-
apart during extreme cold weather.
(5) Disturbed track means the disturbance of the roadbed or ballast
section, as a result of track maintenance or any other event, which
reduces the lateral or longitudinal resistance of the track, or both.
(6) Mechanical stabilization means a type of procedure used to
restore track resistance to disturbed track following certain
maintenance operations. This procedure may incorporate dynamic track
stabilizers or ballast consolidators, which are units of work equipment
that are used as a substitute for the stabilization action provided by
the passage of tonnage trains.
(7) Rail anchors means those devices which are attached to the rail
and bear against the side of the crosstie to control longitudinal rail
movement. Certain types of rail fasteners also act as rail anchors and
control longitudinal rail movement by exerting a downward clamping force
on the upper surface of the rail base.
(8) Rail temperature means the temperature of the rail, measured
with a rail thermometer.
(9) Tight/kinky rail means CWR which exhibits minute alinement
irregularities which indicate that the rail is in a considerable amount
of compression.
(10) Train-induced forces means the vertical, longitudinal, and
lateral dynamic forces which are generated during train movement and
which can contribute to the buckling potential.
(11) Track lateral resistance means the resistance provided to the
rail/crosstie structure against lateral displacement.
(12) Track longitudinal resistance means the resistance provided by
the rail anchors/rail fasteners and the ballast section to the rail/
crosstie structure against longitudinal displacement.
[[Page 135]]
(j) Track owners shall revise their CWR plans to include provisions
for the inspection of joint bars in accordance with Sec. Sec.
213.119(g) and (i)(3).
[63 FR 34029, June 22, 1998; 63 FR 45959, Aug. 28, 1998, as amended at
70 FR 66298, Nov. 2, 2005]