Washington Administrative Code › Title 480 - Utilities and Transportation Commission › Chapter 480-60 - Railroad companies - Clearances › Section 480-60-050 - Side clearances

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) General
			 rule. Side clearances must be at least 8 feet 6 inches unless one of the
			 provisions below applies. If exceptions in subsections (2) through (5) or (7)
			 of this section apply, full side clearance of 8 feet 6 inches shall be provided
			 on the opposite side of the track from the platform.
(2) Platforms - 8" or less above top of rail
			 . . . . . . . . . . . . 4'8"
(3)
			 Platforms - 4'0" or less above top of rail . . . . . . . . . . . .
			 7'3"
(4) Platforms - 4'6" or less
			 above top of rail - When used principally for loading or unloading refrigerator
			 cars . . . . . . . . . . . . 8'0"
(5) Icing platforms and supports . . . . . .
			 . . . . . . 7'3"
(6) A retractable
			 platform which is attached to a permanent structure must be designed so that
			 when it is not in use no part of it shall fall within the clearance limits
			 herein prescribed for a platform of that height above the top of the
			 rail.
(7) Platforms - Combinations
			 of any above.
Platforms defined under (2) above may be combined with either
				(4) or (3) if the lower platform has a level surface from a point not more than
				four feet eight inches from centerline of track to the face of the wall of the
				platform with which it is combined. No other combinations will be
				permitted.
(8) Bridges and
			 tunnels . . . . . . . . . . . . 8'0"
(9) Bridges and tunnels - Upper section (see
			 WAC 480-60-040(3) ).
Side clearance on bridges and in tunnels may be decreased to
				the extent defined by the half circumference of a circle having a radius of
				eight feet and tangent to a horizontal line twenty-two feet six inches above
				top of rail directly above centerline of track.
(10) Bridges - Lower section and structures
			 4' high or less. Bridges, hand rails, water barrels and refuge platforms on
			 bridges and trestles, water columns, oil columns, block signals, cattle guards
			 and cattle chutes, or portions of those items, four feet or less above top of
			 rail may have clearances decreased to the extent defined by a line extending
			 diagonally upward from a point level with the top of rail and five feet distant
			 laterally from centerline of track to a point four feet above top of rail and
			 eight feet distant laterally from centerline of track: Provided, That the
			 minimum clearance for hand rails and water barrels must be seven feet six
			 inches and the minimum clearance for fences of cattle guards must be six feet
			 nine inches.
Unless previously approved, the clearances authorized in this
				subsection, except as provided for hand rails and water barrels, are not
				permitted on bridges where the work of trainmen or yardmen requires them to be
				upon the decks of such bridges for the purpose of coupling or uncoupling cars
				in the performance of switching service on a switching lead.
(11) Side clearance - Engine house and car
			 repair shop doors . . . . . . . . . . . . 7'6"
(12) Side clearance - Interlocking mechanism,
			 switch boxes, and other similar devices projecting 4" or less above the top of
			 the rail . . . . . . . . . . . . 3'0"
(13) Side clearance - Poles supporting
			 trolley contact . . . . . . . . . . . . 8'3"
(14) Side clearance - Signals and switch
			 stands 3' high or less when located between tracks where not reasonably
			 possible to provide clearances otherwise prescribed in these rules . . . . . .
			 . . . . . . 6'0"
(15) Side
			 clearance - Signals and switch stands other than above . . . . . . . . . . . .
			 8'0"
(16) Side clearances on curved
			 track. Side clearances adjacent to curved track shall be increased as necessary
			 to give the equivalent of tangent track clearances. As a general rule, the side
			 clearance on curved track should be increased 1-1/2" for each degree of
			 curvature.
(17) Side clearances -
			 Material or merchandise adjacent to tracks.
No merchandise, material or other articles shall be placed or
				stored on ground or platforms adjacent to any track at a distance less than
				eight feet six inches from the centerline of track, except in cases of
				maintenance or emergency when such material is to be used within a reasonable
				period of time or where local conditions make compliance with this rule
				impossible.
(18) Clearances
			 - Car puller units and appurtenances.
Clearances for car puller units and appurtenances must be
				approved by the commission through the process set forth in WAC
				480-62-020.
Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				  81.04.160 and
				  80.01.040. 00-04-011 (Order No.
				  R-469, Docket No. TR-981101), § 480-60-050, filed 1/21/00, effective
				  2/21/00; Order R-5, § 480-60-050, filed 6/6/69, effective
				  10/9/69.