Pennsylvania Code › Title 52 - PUBLIC UTILITIES › Part I - Public Utility Commission › Subpart B - Carriers of Passengers or Property › Chapter 33 - RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION › Subchapter C - CLEARANCES › Section 33.122 - Side clearances

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a) Minimum
					 side clearances from center line of tangent railroad tracks, used or proposed
					 to be used for transporting freight cars, shall conform with the regulations of
					 this section, except that structures, including platforms and tracks,
					 constructed or under construction prior to the adoption of this Subchapter may
					 be maintained and extended at existing clearances.
(b) All structures and obstructions above the
					 top of the rail, except those specifically exempted in this section, shall have
					 a minimum side clearance of 12 feet from the center line of the
					 track.
(c) Platforms, except
					 platforms adjacent to main or passing tracks, 4 feet or less above the top of
					 the rail may have lesser clearance than 8 feet, 6 inches, from center line of
					 tracks on one side of such tracks only if a full clearance of 8 feet, 6 inches,
					 is maintained on opposite side of track or track centers to adjacent track are
					 not less than 14 feet.
(d)
					 Platforms 4 feet, 6 inches, or less above the top of the rail, if used
					 principally for loading or unloading refrigerator cars, may be constructed 8
					 feet from the center line of the track.
(e) Platforms previously constructed at less
					 than the clearances prescribed in this section may be extended at such lesser
					 clearances, unless such an extension is in connection with reconstruction of
					 the original platform.
(f) Low
					 passenger platforms not over 8 inches above the top of the rail may be 5 feet,
					 1 inch, from the center line of the track. High passenger platforms not over 4
					 feet above the top of the rail may be 5 feet, 7 inches, from the center line of
					 the track.
(g) Side clearances,
					 other than for platforms, on sidings only, at entrances to and inside of
					 buildings, shall not be less than 8 feet from the center line of the
					 track.
(h) Switchboxes,
					 switch-operating mechanisms, and accessories necessary for the control and
					 operation of signals and interlockers projecting 4 inches or less above the top
					 of the rail shall not be less than 3 feet from the center line of the
					 track.
(i) The center spindle of
					 signal and switch stands 3 feet or less above the top of the rail and located
					 between tracks, if not practicable to provide the clearances otherwise
					 prescribed in this section, shall not be less than 6 feet from the center line
					 of the track.
(j) Through bridges
					 supporting track affected, tunnels, water columns, and oil columns should not
					 be less than 8 feet from the center line of the track, except if special
					 protection is required for unusual commodities.
(k) Clearances for through bridges supporting
					 track affected, water barrel platforms and refuge platforms on bridges and
					 trestles not provided with walkways, handrails, water barrels, water columns,
					 oil columns, block signals, cattle guards, and stock chutes if all or portions
					 thereof are 4 feet or less above the top of the rail, may be decreased to the
					 extent defined by a line extending diagonally upward from a point level with
					 the top of the rail and 5 feet distant laterally from the center line of the
					 track to a point 4 feet above the top of the rail and 8 feet distant laterally
					 from the center line of the track to a point 4 feet above the top of the rail
					 and 8 feet distant laterally from the center line of the track; however, the
					 minimum clearance for handrails and water barrels on bridges with walkways
					 shall be 7 feet, 9 inches, and the minimum clearance for fences for cattle
					 guards shall be 6 feet, 9 inches.
(l) Lesser clearances, authorized in
					 subsection (k) providing for handrails and water barrels, do not apply to
					 through bridges if the work of trainmen or yardmen require them to be upon the
					 decks of such bridges for the purpose of coupling and uncoupling cars in the
					 performance of switching service on a switching lead.
(m) The side clearances specified in this
					 section do not apply to mail cranes during such time as arms of such mail
					 cranes are supporting mail sacks for delivery, if the top arm is not higher
					 than 10 feet, 8 inches, above the top of the rail and neither arm extends
					 within 6 feet, 5 inches, from the center line of the track.
(n) Icing platforms and supports shall have a
					 minimum side clearance of eight feet.
(o) Operations over portions of track
					 adjacent to icing platforms previously constructed with a side clearance of
					 less than eight feet shall be restricted, except in emergencies, to the
					 movement or switching of trains containing refrigerator cars to be iced, and
					 necessary use of such tracks for the unloading of supplies required for the
					 operation of an icing dock.
(p) The
					 side clearances specified in this section do not apply to intertrack fences
					 located on the center line between tracks.
(q) The clearances provided in this section
					 do not apply to enginehouses, enginehouse facilities, tipples, or facilities
					 used for servicing cars or for loading or unloading of bulk commodities, if
					 such compliance is not reasonably practicable.
(r) The side clearances specified in this
					 section do not apply to car retarders, derails, switch point protectors,
					 guardrails, and similar appurtenances projecting 3 inches or less above the top
					 of the rail.
(s) All minimum side
					 clearances prescribed in this section are for tangent tracks. Structures
					 adjacent to curve tracks shall have additional minimum side clearance
					 compensating for curvature.
This section cited in 52 Pa. Code §
													33.123 (relating to overhead and
						  side clearances).