Wash. Admin. Code § 296-860-20050
Current through Register Vol. 24-23, December 1, 2024
You must make sure side clearances are at least eight feet six inches from the track centerline unless clearance requirements found in Tables 2, 3, or 4 apply.
| Note: | All side clearances in Tables 2, 3, and 4 that reference "the track centerline" are based on the assumption that private rail operations generally use track that is standard gauge width (4 feet 8 1/2 inches). |
Table 2 - Minimum Side Clearance for Platforms
| If Your Platform Type is : | Then the Minimum Clearance Requirements Between the Track Center-line and a Platform Edge are: |
| Type 1 Platforms with heights of 8 inches or less above the top of the rail. | 4 feet 8 inches See Illustration 2. |
| Type 2 Platforms with heights of 4 feet or less above the top of the rail. | 7 feet 3 inches See Illustration 2. |
| Type 3 Platforms with heights of 4 feet 6 inches or less above the top of the rail and the platforms are used primarily for loading and/or unloading refrigerator cars. | 8 feet See Illustration 2. |
| Type 4 Icing platforms and supports. | 7 feet 3 inches See Illustration 2. |
| Type 5 Retractable platforms attached to permanent structures. | When not in use, use the clearance requirements for a platform of its height. |
| Type 6Platforms that are a combination of Types 1 through 3. (Only Types 1 through 3 platforms can be combined.) | Platforms may be combined if the Type 1 platform has a level surface no more than 4 feet 8 inches from the track centerline to the face of the platform wall with which it is combined. |
Illustration 2 - Minimum Side Clearances for Platforms
| EXEMPTION: | Except for handrail and water barrel clearances, the clearance requirements in Table 3 do not apply to bridge decks where railroad employees couple or uncouple cars on a switching lead unless the department approves them. |
| Note: | The requirements for filing a variance are located in the Safety and health core rules and chapter 296-900 WAC, Administrative rules. |
Table 3 - Minimum Side Clearances for Bridges, Tunnels and Related Structures
| If your side clearance requirement involves: | Then the minimum side clearance requirements between the track centerline and the bridge, tunnel or related structure are: |
| Bridge and tunnel sides -lower section | 8 feet |
| Bridge and tunnel sides -upper section | Defined by the half-circumference of a circle whose: |
| * Radius is 8 feet; and | |
| * Center is located on a line perpendicular to the track's centerline and 14 feet 6 inches above the top of the highest rail. | |
| * See Illustration 3. | |
| Related structures on bridges and in tunnels -lower section structures (or portions of them) that are no more than 4 feet above the top of the rail. For example: | Defined by lines extending: |
| * Refuge platforms on bridges and trestles. | * 5 feet laterally from the track centerline to a point level with the top of the rail and then diagonally upward to another point 4 feet above the top of the rail; and |
| * Water columns, oil columns, and block signals. | * 8 feet laterally from the track centerline to a point 4 feet above the top of the rail. |
| * Cattle chutes. | * See Illustration 3A. The shaded portion of the illustration designates the area that must be free of refuge platforms, water columns, oil columns, block signals and cattle chutes. |
| Hand rails and water barrels | 7 feet 6 inches |
| Fences of cattle guards | 6 feet 9 inches |
Illustration 3 - Minimum Side Clearances for Bridges, Tunnels and Related structures
Illustration 3A - Minimum Side Clearance for Certain Structures in or on the Lower Sections of Bridges and Tunnels
| Note: | 1. The department must approve all minimum clearances for car pulling units and related structures. |
| 2. The requirements for filing a variance are located in the Safety and health core rules and chapter 296-900 WAC, Administrative rules. |
Table 4 - Other Minimum Side Clearance Requirements*
| If your side clearance requirement involves: | Then the minimum side clearance requirements from the track centerline are: |
| Type A | |
| Engine house and car repair shop doors. | 7 feet 6 inches |
| Type B | |
| Interlocking mechanism, switch boxes, and other similar devices projecting no more than 4 feet above the top of the rail. | 3 feet |
| Type C | |
| Poles supporting trolley contact. | 8 feet 3 inches |
| Type D | |
| Signals and switch stands no more than 3 feet high and located between tracks where it is not possible to allow other clearances required in this chapter. | 6 feet |
| Type E | |
| Signals and switch stands other than those described in Ty p e B a n d Ty p e D . | 8 feet |
| Type F | |
| Material, merchandise, inventory, storage bins or equipment stacked or stored on ground or platforms adjacent to tracks. | 8 feet 6 inches |
| Note: | |
| This requirement does not apply to: | |
| * Railroad maintenance operations | |
| * Emergency situations | |
| * Local conditions that make compliance impossible. | |
| Type G | |
| Space adjacent to curved track. | Increased to equal tangent track clearances. As a general rule, side clearances on curved track should be increased 1-1/2" for each degree of curvature. |
* Table 4 does not have an accompanying illustration.
Wash. Admin. Code § 296-860-20050
Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. 07-03-163, § 296-860-20050, filed 1/24/07, effective 4/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010,[49.17].040, and [49.17].050. 02-17-106, § 296-860-20050, filed 8/21/02, effective 10/1/02.