§229.135. Event recorders. — Inbound Citations

(c) If a locomotive in commuter or intercity passenger service is equipped with a device to record data concerning the operation of that locomotive or the train it is powering, that device may be deactivated only under the provisions of § 229.135 of this chapter. Inward- and outward-facing image recording devices on commuter or intercity passenger locomotives may be deactivated only under the provisions of § 229.136 of this chapter. This section does not apply to inward- or outward-facing image recording devices that are installed on freight locomotives.

(2) For purposes of complying with the inspection, testing, and repair recordkeeping requirements in §§ 229.23, 229.27, 229.29, 229.31, 229.33, 229.55, 229.103, 229.105, 229.114, 229.123, and 229.135 with respect to Form FRA F 6180-49A, each locomotive subject to the requirements of § 229.136 shall instead use and maintain Form FRA F 6180-49AP no later than October 12, 2027.

(2) Each lead locomotive, as defined in part 229, manufactured and in service after October 1, 2009, that is equipped and operating with a PTC system required by this subpart, shall be equipped with an event recorder memory module meeting the crash hardening requirements of § 229.135 of this chapter.

(3) DO NOT OCCUPY.”

Design standard means a criterion adopted by an industry or voluntary consensus standards body, which addresses the design of a locomotive with respect to its crashworthiness and crashworthiness features.

Distributed power system means a system that provides control of a number of locomotives dispersed throughout a train from a controlling locomotive located in the lead position. The system provides control of the rearward locomotives by command signals originating at the lead locomotive and transmitted to the remote (rearward) locomotives.

DMU locomotive means a diesel-powered multiple unit operated locomotive with one or more propelling motors designed to carry passenger traffic.

Electronic air brake means a brake system controlled by a computer which provides the means for control of the locomotive brakes or train brakes or both.

Event recorder means a device, designed to resist tampering, that monitors and records data, as detailed in § 229.135(b), over the most recent 48 hours of operation of the electrical system of the locomotive on which the device is installed. However, a device, designed to resist tampering, that monitors and records the specified data only when the locomotive is in motion meets this definition if the device was installed prior to November 5, 1993 and if it records the specified data for the last eight hours the locomotive was in motion.

Event recorder memory module means that portion of an event recorder used to retain the recorded data as described in §§ 229.135(b) and 229.136(a) through (c).

Excessive noise report means a report by a locomotive cab occupant that the locomotive is producing an unusual level of noise that significantly interferes with normal cab communications or that is a concern with respect to hearing conservation.

FRA means the Federal Railroad Administration.

Fuel tank, external means a fuel containment vessel that extends outside the car body structure of a locomotive.

Fuel tank, internal means a fuel containment vessel that does not extend outside the car body structure of a locomotive.

High voltage means an electrical potential of more than 150 volts.

Image recording system means a system of cameras or other electronic devices that record images as described in § 229.136, and any components that convert those images into electronic data transmitted to, and stored on, a memory module.

Initial terminal means a location where a train is originally assembled.

In-service event recorder means an event recorder that was successfully tested as prescribed in § 229.27(d) and whose subsequent failure to operate as intended, if any, is not actually known by the railroad operating the locomotive on which it is installed.

Lateral means the horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of travel.

Lead locomotive means the first locomotive proceeding in the direction of movement.

Lite locomotive means a locomotive or a consist of locomotives not attached to any piece of equipment or attached only to a caboose.

Locomotive means a piece of on-track equipment other than hi-rail, specialized maintenance, or other similar equipment—