---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 229.46"
title: "49"
number: "229.46"
heading: "Brakes: general."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/229.46"
---

# §229.46. Brakes: general.

- (a) Before each trip, the railroad shall know the following:
  - (1) The locomotive brakes and devices for regulating pressures, including but not limited to the automatic and independent brake control systems, operate as intended; and
  - (2) **The water and oil have been drained from the air brake system of all locomotives in the consist.**
- (b) A locomotive with an inoperative or ineffective automatic or independent brake control system will be considered to be operating as intended for purposes of [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section, if all of the following conditions are met:
  - (1) The locomotive is in a trailing position and is not the controlling locomotive in a distributed power train consist;
  - (2) The railroad has previously determined, in conjunction with the locomotive and/or airbrake manufacturer, that placing such a locomotive in trailing position adequately isolates the non-functional valves so as to allow safe operation of the brake systems from the controlling locomotive;
  - (3) If deactivation of the circuit breaker for the air brake system is required, it shall be specified in the railroad's operating rules;
  - (4) A tag shall immediately be placed on the isolation switch of the locomotive giving the date and location and stating that the unit may only be used in a trailing position and may not be used as a lead or controlling locomotive;
  - (5) The tag required in [paragraph (b)(4)](#b-4) of this section remains attached to the isolation switch of the locomotive until repairs are made; and
  - (6) The inoperative or ineffective brake control system is repaired prior to or at the next periodic inspection.

## Notes

### Amendments

[77 FR 21346, Apr. 9, 2012]

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 20103, 20107, 20133, 20137-38, 20143, 20168, 20701-03, 21301-02, 21304; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89.

### Source

Source: 45 FR 21109, Mar. 31, 1980, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[77 FR 21346, Apr. 9, 2012]