49 C.F.R. § 213.55

Current through September 30, 2024

Section 213.55 - Track alinement

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, alinement may not deviate from uniformity more than the amount prescribed in the following table:

Class of track	Tangent track	Curved track
	The deviation of the mid-offset from a 62-foot line1 may not be more than-(inches)	The deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 31-foot chord2 may not be more than-(inches)	The deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 62-foot chord2 may not be more than-(inches)
Class 1 track	5	3 N/A	5
Class 2 track	3	3 N/A	3
Class 3 track	13/4	11/4	13/4
Class 4 track	11/2	1	11/2
Class 5 track	3/4	1/2	5/8

¹ The ends of the line shall be at points on the gage side of the line rail, five-eighths of an inch below the top of the railhead. Either rail may be used as the line rail; however, the same rail shall be used for the full length of that tangential segment of the track.

² The ends of the chord shall be at points on the gage side of the outer rail, five-eighths of an inch below the top of the railhead.

³ N/A-Not Applicable

(b) For operations at a qualified cant deficiency, E_u, of more than 5 inches, the alinement of the outside rail of the curve may not deviate from uniformity more than the amount prescribed in the following table:

Class of track	Curved track
	The deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 31-foot chord1 may not be more than-(inches)	The deviation of the mid-ordinate from a 62-foot chord1 may not be more than-(inches)
Class 1 track2	3 N/A	11/4
Class 2 track2	3 N/A	11/4
Class 3 track	3/4	11/4
Class 4 track	3/4	7/8
Class 5 track	1/2	5/8

¹ The ends of the chord shall be at points on the gage side of the outer rail, five-eighths of an inch below the top of the railhead.

² Restraining rails or other systems may be required for derailment prevention.

³ N/A-Not Applicable

49 C.F.R. §213.55

78 FR 16100, Mar. 13, 2013