17-229 C.M.R. ch. 501
SUMMARY: The following Rules and Regulations govern clearance on railroads with reference to side and overhead structures, poles or other objects over or beside any railroad track.
.01 SCOPE
The minimum clearance requirements for railroads hereinafter prescribed shall hereafter be observed in this State in all construction or complete reconstruction of tracks, structures, poles or other objects located over or beside any standard gauge or street railroad tracks, used for transporting freight cars.
No railroad shall operate any cars, trains, motors, engines or other rolling equipment over its own or other tracks, except as hereinafter provided, on which overhead or side clearances are less than the minimum herein prescribed, if such tracks, structures, poles or other objects are installed, constructed or completely reconstructed subsequent to the effective date hereof.
.02 DEFINITIONS.
A. Height of Freight Car. Height of freight car is the vertical distance between the top of the rail and the top of the running board. B. Width of a Freight Car. Width of a freight car shall mean twice the distance from the center line of the car to the extreme outside part thereof. C. Overhead Clearance. Overhead clearance shall mean the normal distance from the plane of the tops of the rails to a structure or obstruction above. D. Side Clearance. Side clearance shall mean the distance from the center line of the track, to a structure or obstruction at the side of the track, parallel to the plane of the tops of the rails.
.03 OVERHEAD CLEARANCES
A. The minimum overhead clearance above railroad and street railroad tracks, which are used or proposed to be used for transporting freight cars shall be twenty two
(22) feet, except as hereinafter prescribed. Structures constructed prior to the effective date of this order may be maintained at such clearances as they were originally designed. Additional tracks may be constructed and existing tracks may be reconstructed thereunder at the same clearance.
B. The overhead clearance above the top of the rails of such tracks located inside of buildings may be reduced to seventeen (17) feet, provided that when an overhead clearance of less than twenty-two (22) feet exists on tracks inside such building, all cars, trains, motors, engines or other equipment shall be brought to a full stop before entering such buildings.
C. Unless otherwise provided herein, overhead clearances authorized in this section are applicable only to tracks on which freight cars having a height not exceeding fifteen (15) feet six (6) inches are transported. Freight cars of a height exceeding fifteen (15) feet six (6) inches shall be permanently marked, stenciled, or placarded as hereinafter required, and such markings maintained in a legible condition reading as follows:
"This Car Excess Height"
-MAINE-
The markings required in this subsection shall be made permanent on owned cars as soon as practicable with a 3/4 inch stripe outlining an area not less than seven (7) inches by ten (10) inches, such stripes are lettering to be of a color contrasting with the car body color. All such required markings and placarding shall be placed on the side adjacent to the ladder near the floor line of the car.
D. Clearance provided for in paragraph .03(A) in this section shall not apply to overhead wires and cables. Clearances required for communication and electrical supply lines are established in Public Utilities Order U.981 as Amended May 23, 1949, which in effect adopted the Fifth Edition of the "National Electric Safety Code," as prepared and published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Standards.
Minimum side clearances from the center line of tangent standard gauge railroad and street railroad tracks which are used, or proposed to be used, for transporting freight cars, except as hereinafter described, shall be as shown below:
| Description | Minimum Side Clearances Maine Line Sidetrack |
|---|---|
| A. All structures and obstructions above the top of rail, except as hereinafter specifically mentioned | 8'0' |
| B. Downspouts, fire walls and retractable canopies | 7'6' |
| C. Doorways and entrances to buildings. The leading car or engine shall be brought to a full stop before entering such a restricted area | 7'0' |
| D. Platforms or loading wharves twelve (12) inches or less above the top of the highest rail | 5'4' |
| E. Platforms or loading wharves four (4) feet six (6) inches or less but more than twelve (12) inches above the top of the highest rail when used principally for loading or unloading refrigerator cars | 8'0' |
| F. Platforms or loading wharves four (4) feet or less (but more than twelve (12) inches) above the top of the highest rail. This clearance limited to locations where a full clearance of eight (8) feet is maintained on the opposite side of the track, or track centers to adjacent tracks, is not less than thirteen (13) feet | 5'9' |
| G. Platforms or loading wharves above four (4) feet, up to a maximum of nine (9) feet, on side-tracks for handling products of the forest, mines and pits an one side of track only | 6'0' |
| H. Platforms previously constructed at less than the clearances herein prescribed may be extended at such existing clearance, unless the extension is in connection with the complete reconstruction of the original platform. | |
| I. Switch Boxes, switch operating mechanisms and accessories necessary for the control and operation of signals and interlockers projecting four (4) inches or less above the top of the highest rail | 3'0' |
| Description | Minimum Side Clearances Maine Line Sidetrack |
|---|---|
| J. Signals and switch stands three (3) feet two (2) inches or less above the top of the highest rail and located between tracks where not practicable to provide clearances otherwise prescribed in this order | 5'5' |
| K. Signals and switch stands in yards four (4) feet or less above the top of the highest rail and located between tracks where track centers are fifteen (15) feet or more | 7'0' |
| L. Icing platforms and supports | 6'0' |
| M. No merchandise, materials, equipment or other articles except ice and snow shall be placed or permitted to remain either on the ground or on the platform adjacent to any track at a distance of less than eight (8) feet from the center line of the track; provided that this rule shall not apply to materials to be used within a reasonable length of time in the construction, maintenance or repair of tracks or structures. | |
| N. Structures adjacent to curved tracks shall have any additional minimum side clearance compensating for the curvature. | |
| O. When tracks are operated exclusively for logging purposes, log rollways which serve them may be erected at less than the minimum side clearance herein prescribed. | |
| P. The side clearances specified herein shall not apply to mail cranes during such times as the arms of such mail cranes are supporting sacks for delivery, provided that the top arm is not higher than ten (10) feet eight (8) inches above the top of the rail, and neither arm extends within six (6) feet one (1)inch from the center line of the track. | |
| Q. On all tracks within yard limits where switching is normally performed, where side clearances are less than those prescribed herein caution signs or fixed signals shall be provided and such signs or signals shall be well maintained. Such signs or signals shall be erected within twelve (12) months of the effective date of this order, in a conspicuous location on a structure or post at a sufficient distance from the close clearance to provide adequate warning. |
A. Minimum overhead and side clearances on railroad bridges may be decreased to conform with the clearances as shown on the accompanying diagram entitled "Figure 1."
B. Minimum overhead and side clearances may be reduced for eave overhang on buildings constructed adjacent to a railroad sidetrack to six (6) feet from the center of the track at heights of seventeen (17) feet or more above the top of the rail, provided full side clearance, as required in Section 3, is maintained between the track and the building below a height of seventeen (17) feet, and further provided that full overhead and side clearance is maintained on the opposite side of the track and the close clearance is marked by an appropriate sign or signal in a conspicuous location at a sufficient distance from the obstruction to provide adequate warning."
A. Nothing herein shall be construed as to prevent the movement of materials or equipment over tracks when such materials or equipment is necessary in the construction and maintenance of such tracks, nor in the movement of special work equipment used in the construction, maintenance or operation of the railroad, provided such movements shall be carried on under such conditions as are necessary to provide for the safety of all concerned.
B. No restricted clearance prescribed herein shall apply to temporary construction made necessary on any construction project or temporary emergency conditions caused by derailments, washouts or other unavoidable disasters.
C. If, in any particular case, exemption from any of the requirements herein is deemed necessary by the railroad company or by the State Highway Commission, the Commission will consider the application of such railroad company, or the State Highway Commission, for such exemption when accompanied by a full statement of the conditions existing and the reasons for asking for such exemption. Any exemption so granted will be limited to the particular case covered by the application.
D. The clearances provided in this order shall not apply to railroad engine houses, shops or engine house facilities.
E. The Commission reserves the right to modify any of the provisions of these Rules and Regulations in specific cases when, in the Commission's opinion, public safety, convenience or necessity would be served better by so doing.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Adopted on May 15, 1979 and filed on May 16, 1979;
*HISTORICAL DERIVATION: Adopted March 1, 1956. See P.U.C. General Order #2; Ch. 259 P.L. 1955; Ch. 341, §2 P.L. 1977.
EFFECTIVE DATE (ELECTRONIC CONVERSION):
April 24, 1996
NON-SUBSTANTIVE CORRECTIONS:
June 29, 1998 - statutory references, formatting, insertion of missing graphic
April 4, 2000 - header corrected; .04(H) clearance measurement removed because it was absent from the original adoption.