#### § 174.85 Position in train of placarded cars, transport vehicles, freight containers, and bulk packagings.

(a) Except as provided in [paragraphs (b)](/on/2024-09-24/title-49/section-174.85#p-174.85(b)) and [(c)](/on/2024-09-24/title-49/section-174.85#p-174.85(c)) of this section, the position in a train of each loaded placarded car, transport vehicle, freight container, and bulk packaging must conform to the provisions of this section.

(b) A car placarded “RADIOACTIVE” must comply with train positioning requirements of [paragraph (d)](/on/2024-09-24/title-49/section-174.85#p-174.85(d)) of this section and must be separated from a locomotive, occupied caboose, or carload of undeveloped film by at least one non-placarded car.

(c) A tank car containing the residue of a hazardous material must be separated from a locomotive or occupied caboose by at least one rail car other than a placarded tank car.

(d) Position of rail cars in a train. In the following table:

Position in Train of Placarded Cars Transporting Hazardous Materials

| RESTRICTIONS | Placard Group 1 | Placard Group 2 | | Placard Group 3 | | Placard Group 4 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Rail Car | Tank Car | Rail Car | Tank Car | Rail Car | Rail Car |
| 1. When train length permits, placarded car may not be nearer than the sixth car from the engine or occupied caboose | X | X | | X | | |
| 2. When train length does not permit, placarded car must be placed near the middle of the train, but not nearer than the second car from an engine or occupied caboose | X | X | | X | | |
| 3. A placarded car may not be placed next to an open-top car when any of the lading in the open top car protrudes beyond the car ends, or if the lading shifted, would protrude beyond the car ends. | X | X | | X | | |
| 4. A placarded car may not be placed next to a loaded flat car, except closed TOFC/COFC equipment, auto carriers, and other specially equipped cars with tie-down devices for securing vehicles. Permanent bulk head flat cars are considered the same as open-top cars | X | X | | X | | |
| 5. A placarded car may not be placed next to any transport vehicle or freight container having an internal combustion engine or an open-flame device in operation. | X | X | | X | | |
| 6. Placarded cars may not be placed next to each other based on the following: | | | | | | |
| Placard Group 1 | | X | X | X | X | X |
| Placard Group 2 | X | | | X | X | X |
| Placard Group 3 | X | X | X | | | X |
| Placard Group 4 | X | X | X | X | X | |
| | | | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| PLACARD GROUP: | | | | | | |
| Group 1—Divisions 1.1 and 1.2 (explosive) materials. | | | | | | |
| Group 2—Divisions 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 (explosive), Class 2 (compressed gas; other than Div 2.3, PG I, Zone A), Class 3 (flammable liquid), Class 4 (flammable solid), Class 5 (oxidizing), Class 6 (poisonous liquid; other than Div 6.1, PG I, Zone A), and Class 8 (corrosive) materials. | | | | | | |
| Group 3—Divisions 2.3 (Zone A; poisonous gas) and 6.1 (PG I, Zone A; poisonous liquid) materials. | | | | | | |
| Group 4—Class 7 (radioactive) materials. | | | | | | |

(1) Where an “X” appears at the intersection of a Placard Group column and a Restriction row, the corresponding restriction applies.

(2) “Rail Car” means a car other than a tank car.

(3) For purposes of this subpart, each unit of an articulated intermodal rail car shall be considered as one car.

[Amdt. 174-68, [55 FR 52680](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/55-FR-52680), Dec. 21, 1990, as amended at [57 FR 45464](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/57-FR-45464), Oct. 1, 1992; Amdt. 174-83, [61 FR 28678](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/61-FR-28678), June 5, 1996; Amdt.174-83, [61 FR 50255](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/61-FR-50255), Sept. 25, 1996; Amdt. 174-83, [61 FR 51339](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/61-FR-51339), Oct. 1, 1996; [64 FR 51919](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/64-FR-51919), Sept. 27, 1999; [66 FR 45383](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/66-FR-45383), Aug. 28, 2001]