Missouri Code of State Regulations › Title 7 - MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION › Division 265 - Motor Carrier and Railroad Safety › Chapter 8 - Railroads › Section 7 CSR 265-8.060 - Structural Clearances

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 14, July 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This amendment moves the rule from Title 4
				  to Title 7, removes all references to mail cranes because these are no longer
				  used in the rail industry, updates the division name, incorporates rules found
				  in the National Electrical Safety Code, and eliminates unnecessary restrictive
				  wording.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The secretary of state has
				  determined that the publication of the entire text of the material which is
				  incorporated by reference as a portion of this rule would be unduly cumbersome
				  or expensive. This material as incorporated by reference in this rule shall be
				  maintained by the agency at its headquarters and shall be made available to the
				  public for inspection and copying at no more than the actual cost of
				  reproduction. This note applies only to the reference material. The entire text
				  of the rule is printed here.
(1) Effective March 15, 1951 no railway or
				railroad corporation, county, municipality, township or other corporation,
				firm, or person shall erect or cause to be erected any passenger or freight
				station platforms, or any permanent structure over or contiguous to any
				railroad track(s), switch, or siding, such as shop buildings, coal bins,
				manufacturing or industrial buildings, or any other structure whatsoever, so
				that the vertical and horizontal clearances are less than the prescribed
				minimum contained in this rule, unless permission is received from the division
				for variance.
(2) Bridges,
				viaducts, tunnels, overhead roadways, footbridges or other structures hereafter
				built over the track(s) of a railroad(s) by a county, municipality, township,
				railroad company or other corporation, firm or person shall be not less than
				twenty-two feet (22') in the clear from the top of the rails of the track(s) to
				the bottom of the lowest sill, girder or crossbeam or other structure and the
				lowest downward projection of the bridges, viaduct, tunnel, overhead roadway or
				footbridge. No through truss bridge shall be constructed in any track, nor
				shall any bridge or other structure be constructed, across or adjacent to any
				track having a vertical clearance less than twenty-two feet (22') above the top
				of rail for a lateral distance of four feet (4') from the center line of track.
				From a point of four feet (4') horizontally distant from the center line of
				track and twenty-two feet (22') above the top of rail, the clearance lines may
				extend downward at an angle to points which are eight feet (8') distant on each
				side of the center line of track and sixteen feet (16') above the top of
				rail.
(3) The following horizontal
				clearance applies to all steam and diesel railroads:
(A) No bridge shall be constructed having a
				horizontal clearance of less than eight feet (8') from the center line of track
				at a point four feet (4') vertically distant from the top of rail. From a point
				eight feet (8') horizontally distant from the center line of track and four
				feet (4') vertically distant from the top of rail, the clearance lines may
				extend at an angle to a point five feet (5') horizontally distant from the
				center line of track at the level of the top of rail;
(B) Except as provided in this rule, no track
				may be constructed adjacent to any building or structure nor shall any signal
				post, switch stand, building, or any other structure be constructed adjacent to
				any track which has a horizontal clearance of less than eight feet six inches
				(8'6") from the center of track, measured at right angles, it being understood
				that the horizontal clearance of eight feet six inches (8'6") shall be
				maintained to a point sixteen feet (16') above the level of the top of rail,
				provided that the clearance line for structures other than buildings,
				retainers, guards, and low platforms may extend from a point four feet (4')
				above the top of rail, downward at an angle to a point five feet six inches
				(5'6") distant from the center line of track at a point which is level with the
				top of rail;
(C) Engine terminal
				and shop structures such as engine houses, engine and car repair shops, cinder
				conveyors, and turntables may be constructed with horizontal clearances of not
				less than six feet (6') from the center of terminal or shop tracks adjoining or
				entering them, provided that in every such case warning signs are erected at a
				suitable location at each end of the structures calling the trainmen's
				attention to insufficient clearance. The clearance requirements of this rule do
				not apply to working platforms and working structures inside of engine houses
				and repair shops;
(D) Platforms for
				loading and unloading of freight, including livestock, the tops of which are
				approximately level with the floor of freight cars, may be constructed adjacent
				to one side only of freight tracks which are not in open thoroughfare, at a
				distance less than eight feet six inches (8'6") from the center of track, but
				not less than five feet (5'9") nine inches from the center. In every such case,
				warning signs shall be erected at a suitable location at each end of the
				platform, directing the trainmen's attention to insufficient clearance and
				prohibiting them from riding on the sides of cars while in motion;
(E) Passenger loading platforms, the tops of
				which are level with the platforms of passenger cars, may be constructed next
				to tracks which are given up wholly to passenger service at a distance less
				than eight feet six inches (8'6") from the center line of tracks, provided the
				passenger coaches are equipped with platform gates and kept closed while the
				train is in motion. Passenger loading platforms which do not exceed a height of
				four inches (4") above the top of rail may be constructed a distance of not
				less than four feet six inches (4"6") from the center line of track and
				platforms which do not exceed a height of eight inches (8") above the top of
				rail may be constructed a distance not less than five feet one inch (5'1") from
				the center line of track;
(F) Loose
				materials, such as coal, sand, scrap iron, and the like, may not be stored or
				piled adjacent to a railroad track with a horizontal clearance at any point
				less than eight feet six inches (8'6") from the center of track, measured at
				right angle to, except as provided in this rule. A guard or retainer to hold
				the loose materials may be constructed with a horizontal clearance of not less
				than eight feet six inches (8'6") from the center line of track, measured at a
				right angle to the center. The horizontal clearance of eight feet six inches
				(8'6") shall be maintained to a retainer or guard height of sixteen feet (16')
				above the level of the top of rail. Along a freight track not in open
				thoroughfare, a retainer or guard, the top of which is approximately level with
				the floor of freight cars, may be constructed adjacent to but one (1) side of
				the track with a horizontal clearance of less than eight feet six inches (8'6")
				but not less than five feet nine inches (5'9") to the center line of track,
				measured at a right angle to the center, provided that in every such case
				warning signs shall be erected at a suitable location at each end of the
				retainer or guard directing the trainmen's attention to the insufficient
				clearance and prohibiting trainmen from riding the sides of cars while in
				motion. No individual, partnership, association, or corporation may store or
				pile loose material adjacent to a railroad track unless a retainer or guard
				with the clearances prescribed is erected, or unless, immediately after the
				piling of this material all such material not providing a clearance of eight
				feet six inches (8'6") to the center line of adjacent railroad tracks is
				removed. Retainers or guards constructed to hold the loose materials shall not
				have a horizontal clearance less than the prescribed minimum in this
				subsection, unless permission has been received from the division to vary. This
				subsection does not apply to individuals, partnerships, corporations, trustees,
				or receivers owning or operating a railroad while engaged in the construction,
				maintenance, or repair of a railroad track or other structure;
(G) No railroad track unless specifically
				authorized by the division, shall be constructed after July 1, 1985 so that the
				center line of track is less than fourteen feet (14') from the center line of
				an adjacent track and no ladder track shall be constructed so that the center
				line of the ladder track is less than nineteen feet (19') from the center line
				of an adjacent ladder track or less than seventeen feet (17') from the center
				line of any other track. Any system of three (3) or more tracks at freight
				houses, warehouses, wharves, or similar structures, used exclusively for
				handling freight to or from platforms located on one (1) or both sides, may
				have track center distances of thirteen feet (13'), provided that at least two
				(2) tracks in one such system shall have centers not less than thirteen feet
				six inches (13'6") provided that no track having track center distances of less
				than fourteen feet (14') shall be used as a thoroughfare track. The distance
				between tracks may be diminished to the extent necessary for the construction
				of crossings, crossovers, gauntlet tracks, turnouts, switches, or radial
				tracks. The provisions requiring fourteen feet (14') distances between track
				centers do not apply to the construction of tracks under viaducts or other
				overpasses which originally were designed to accommodate an additional track(s)
				at distances of less than fourteen feet (14') between track centers, if under
				that design the additional track(s) cannot be constructed with a distance
				between track centers of fourteen feet (14'). Permission to construct tracks
				with less clearance may be granted by the division if, after a thorough
				investigation in any particular case, it is determined that the construction
				would not create a condition unduly hazardous to railroad employees or other
				persons;
(H) At locations where low
				switch stands and dwarf signals are placed between tracks having track center
				distances of fourteen feet (14') or less, the horizontal clearance rule
				contained in subsection (2)(A) applies; and
(I) The horizontal clearances specified do
				not apply to automatic train stop wayside inductors provided the inductor does
				not extend more than three inches (3") above the level of the top of rail and
				is not less than four feet two inches (4'2") from the center of track.