shopped for work amounting to practically rebuilding body of car, at which time they must be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(g) Roof handholds—(1) Number. (i) One over each ladder.

(ii) One right-angle handhold may take the place of two adjacent specified roof handholds, provided the dimensions and locations coincide, and that an extra leg is securely fastened to car at point of angle.

(2) Dimensions. Minimum diameter, five-eighths of an inch, wrought iron or steel. Minimum clear length, 16 inches. Minimum clearance, 2, preferably 21⁄2 inches.

(3) Location. (i) On roof of car, one parallel to treads of each ladder, not less than 8 nor more than 15 inches from edge of roof, except on refrigerator cars where ice hatches prevent, when location may be nearer edge of roof.

(ii) Carriers are not required to change the location of handholds on cars in service July 1, 1911, except end handhold under end sills, where the appliances are within 3 inches of the required location, except that when cars undergo regular repairs they must then be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(4) Manner of application. Roof handholds shall be securely fastened with not less than 2-inch bolts with nuts outside (when possible) and riveted over, or with not less than 2-inch rivets.

Number.

(h) Side handholds-(1) Four. (Tread of side ladder is a side handhold.)

(2) Dimensions. Minimum diameter, five-eighths of an inch, wrought iron or steel. Minimum clear length, 16 inches, preferably 24 inches. Minimum clearance, 2, preferably 22, inches.

(3) Location. (i) Horizontal, one near each end on each side of car. Side handholds shall be not less than 24 nor more than 30 inches above center line of coupler, except as provided above, where tread of ladder is a handhold. Clearance of outer end of handhold shall be not more than 8 inches from end of car.

(ii) Carriers are not required to change the location of handholds, on cars in service July 1, 1911, except end

handholds under end sills, where the appliances are within 3 inches of the required location, except that when cars undergo regular repairs they must then be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(4) Manner of application. Side handholds shall be securely fastened Iwith not less than 2-inch bolts with nuts outside (when possible) and riveted over, or with not less than 2-inch rivets.

(i) Horizontal end handholds—(1) Number. Eight or more, four on each end of car. (Tread of end ladder is an end handhold.)

(2) Dimensions. (i) Minimum diameter, five-eighths of an inch, wrought iron or steel. Minimum clear length, 16 inches, preferably 24 inches.

(ii) A handhold 14 inches in length may be used where it is impossible to use one 16 inches in length.

(iii) Minimum clearance, 2, preferably 22, inches.

(3) Location. (i) One near each side on each end of car, not less than 24 nor more than 30 inches above center line of coupler, except as provided above, when tread of end ladder is an end handhold. Clearance of outer end of handhold shall be not more than 8 inches from side of car.

(ii) One near each side of each end of car on face of end sill or sheathing over end sill, projecting outward or downward. Clearance of outer end of handhold shall be not more than 16 inches from side of car.

(iii) On each end of cars with platform end sills 6 or more inches in width, measured from end post or siding and extending entirely across end of car, there shall be one additional end handhold not less than 24 inches in length, located near center of car, not less than 30 nor more than 60 inches above platform end sill.

(iv) Carriers are not required to change the location of handholds, on cars in service July 1, 1911, except end handholds under end sills, where the appliances are within 3 inches of the required location, except that when cars undergo regular repairs they must then be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(4) Manner of application. Horizontal end handholds shall be securely

fastened with not less than 2-inch bolts with nuts outside (when possible) and riveted over, or with not less than 2-inch rivets.

(j) Vertical end handholds-(1) Number. Two on full-width platform end-sill cars, as heretofore described.

(2) Dimensions. Minimum diameter, five-eighths of an inch, wrought iron or steel. Minimum clear length, 18, preferably 24, inches. Minimum clearance, 2, preferably 21⁄2, inches.

(3) Location. (i) One on each end of car opposite ladder, not more than 8 inches from side of car; clearance of bottom end of handhold shall be not less than 24 nor more than 30 inches above center line of coupler.

(ii) Carriers are not required to change the location of handholds, on cars in service July 1, 1911, except end handholds under end sills, where the appliances are within 3 inches of the required location, except that when cars undergo regular repairs they must then be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(4) Manner of application. Vertical end handholds shall be securely fas

tened with not less than 1⁄2-inch bolts with nuts outside (when possible) and riveted over, or with not less than 1⁄2inch rivets.

(k) Uncoupling levers—(1) Number. Two. Uncoupling levers may be either single or double, and of any efficient design.

(2) Dimensions. (i) Handles of uncoupling levers, except those shown on plate B or of similar designs, shall be not more than 6 inches from sides of car.

(ii) Uncoupling levers of design shown on plate B and of similar designs shall conform to the following prescribed limits:

(iii) Handles shall be not more than 12, preferably 9, inches from sides of cars. Center lift arms shall be not less than 7 inches long.

(iv) Center of eye at end of center lift arm shall be not more than 31⁄2 inches beyond center of eye of uncoupling pin of coupler when horn of coupler is against the buffer block or end sill. (See plate B.)

las with fixed ends.

(Cars with sides more than 36 inches above the floor are high-side cars.)

(vi) Handles of uncoupling levers of the "rocking" or "push-down" type shall be not less than 18 inches from top of rail when lock block has released knuckle, and a suitable stop shall be provided to prevent inside arm from flying up in case of breakage.

(3) Location. One on each end of car. When single lever is used, it shall be placed on left side of end of car. (Secs. 2, 4, and 6, 27 Stat. 531, as amended; secs, 1 and 3, 32 Stat. 943, as amended; sec. 6(e) and (f), 80 Stat. 939 (45 U.S.C. 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10, 11-16 and 49 U.S.C. 103(c)(1))

[33 FR 19663, Dec. 25, 1968, as amended at 49 FR 26745, June 29, 1984]

(a) Hand brakes-(1) Number. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(a)(1)).

(2) Dimensions. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(a)(2)).

(3) Location. (i) Each hand brake shall be so located that it can be safely operated while car is in motion.

(ii) The brake shaft shall be located on end of car to the left of, and not more than 22 inches from, center.

(iii) Carriers are not required to change the brakes from right to left side on steel or steel-underframe cars with platform end sills, in service July 1, 1911, except when such appliances are renewed, at which time they must be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(iv) Carriers are not required to change the location of brake wheels and brake shafts on cars in service July 1, 1911, where the appliances are within 3 inches of the required location, except that when cars undergo regular repairs they must then be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(4) Manner of application. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(a)(4)).

(b) Brake step. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1 (b)).

(c) Sill steps. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(d)).

(d) Ladders-(1) Number. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(e)(1)).

(2) Dimensions. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(e)(2)), except that top ladder tread shall be located not more than 4 inches from top of car.

(3) Location. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(e)(3)).

(4) Manner of application. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(e)(4)).

(e) Side handholds. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(h)).

(f) Horizontal end handholds. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(i)).

(g) Vertical end handholds. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(j)).

(h) Uncoupling levers. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(k)).

(i) End-ladder clearance. (1) No part of car above end sills within 30 inches from side of car, except buffer block, brake shaft, brake wheel, brake step, or uncoupling lever shall extend to within 12 inches of a vertical plane parallel with end of car and passing through the inside face of knuckle when closed with coupler horn against the buffer block or end sill, and no other part of end of car or fixtures on same above end sills, other than exceptions herein noted, shall extend beyond the outer face of buffer block.

(2) Carriers are not required to make changes to secure additional endladder clearance on cars in service July 1, 1911, that have 10 or more inches end-ladder clearance within 30 inches of side of car, until car is shopped for work amounting to practically rebuilding body of car, at which time they must be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

§ 231.3 Drop-end high-side gondola cars.

(a) Hand brakes-(1) Number. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(a)(1)).

(2) Dimensions. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(a)(2)).

(3) Location. (i) Each hand brake shall be so located that it can be safely operated while car is in motion.

(ii) The brake shaft shall be located on end of car to the left of center.

(iii) Carriers are not required to change the brakes from right to left side on steel or steel-underframe cars with platform end sills, in service July 1, 1911, except when such appliances are renewed, at which time they must be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(4) Manner of application. Same as specified for “Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(a)(4)).

(b) Sill steps. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(d)).

(c) Ladders—(1) Number. Two.

(2) Dimensions. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(e)(2)), except that top ladder tread shall be located not more than 4 inches from top of car.

(3) Location. (i) One on each side, not more than 8 inches from right end of car, measured from inside edge of ladder stile or clearance of ladder treads to corner of car.

(ii) Carriers are not required to change the location of ladders on cars in service July 1, 1911, where the appliances are within 3 inches of the required location, except that when cars undergo regular repairs they must then be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(4) Manner of application. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(e)(4)).

(d) Side handholds. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(h)).

(e) Horizontal end handholds-(1) Number. Four.

(2) Dimensions. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(i)(2)).

(3) Location. (i) One near each side of each end of car on face of end sill. Clearance of outer end of handhold shall be not more than 16 inches from side of car.

(ii) Carriers are not required to change the location of handholds on cars in service July 1, 1911, except end handholds under end sills, where the appliances are within 3 inches of the required location, except that when cars undergo regular repairs they must then be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(4) Manner of application. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(i)(4)).

(f) Uncoupling levers. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(k)).

(g) End ladder clearance. (1) No part of car above end sills within 30 inches from side of car, except buffer block, brake shaft, brake wheel or uncoupling lever shall extend to within 12 inches of a vertical plane parallel with end of car and passing through the inside face of knuckle when closed with coupler horn against the buffer block or end sill, and no other part of end of car or fixtures on same above end sills, other than exceptions noted in this subparagraph, shall extend beyond the outer face or buffer block.

(2) Carriers are not required to make changes to secure additional endladder clearance on cars in service July 1, 1911, that have 10 or more inches end-ladder clearance, within 30 inches of side of car, until car is shopped for work amounting to practically rebuilding body of car, at which time they must be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

§ 231.4 Fixed-end low-side gondola and low-side hopper cars.

(Cars with sides 36 inches or less above the floor are low-side cars.)

(a) Hand brakes-(1) Number. Same as specified for “Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(a)(1)).

(2) Dimensions. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(a)(2)).

(3) Location. (i) Each hand brake shall be so located that it can be safely operated while car is in motion.

(ii) The brake shaft shall be located on end of car, to the left of and not more than 22 inches from center.

(iii) Carriers are not required to change the brakes from right to left side on steel or steel-underframe cars with platform end sills, in service July 1, 1911, except when such appliances are renewed, at which time they must be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(iv) Carriers are not required to change the location of brake wheels and brake shafts on cars in service July 1, 1911, where the appliances are within 3 inches of the required location, except that when cars undergo regular repairs they must then be made to comply with the standards prescribed.

(4) Manner of application. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(a)(4)).

(b) Brake step. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(b)).

(c) Sill steps. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(d)).

(d) Side handholds-(1) Number. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(h)(1)).

(2) Dimensions. Same as specified for "Box and other house cars" (see § 231.1(h)(2)).

(3) Location. (i) Horizontal, one near each end on each side of car, not less than 24 nor more than 30 inches above center line of coupler, if car construction will permit, but handhold shall not project above top of side. Clearance of outer end of handhold shall be not more than 8 inches from end of car.