---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 493"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "493"
heading: "Use of railroad bridges by other railroad companies"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/493"
units:
  - "Chapter 11 — Bridges Over Navigable Waters"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §493. Use of railroad bridges by other railroad companies


All railroad companies desiring the use of any railroad bridge built in accordance with the provisions of sections [491](/usc/33/491.md) to [494](/usc/33/494.md) and [495](/usc/33/495.md) to [498](/usc/33/498.md) of this title, shall be entitled to equal rights and privileges relative to the passage of railway trains or cars over the same and over the approaches thereto upon payment of a reasonable compensation for such use; and in case of any disagreement between the parties in regard to the terms of such use or the sums to be paid all matters at issue shall be determined by the [Secretary](/usc/33/426h–1.md?p=2) of Transportation upon hearing the allegations and proofs submitted to him.


## Source credit

(Mar. 23, 1906, ch. 1130, § 3, 34 Stat. 85; Pub. L. 97–449, § 2(d)(1), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2440.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1983—Pub. L. 97–449 substituted “Secretary of Transportation” for “Secretary of War”. See Transfer of Functions note below.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Transfer of Functions

Functions, powers, and duties of Secretary of the Army [formerly War] and other offices and officers of Department of the Army [formerly War] under this section to extent that they relate generally to location and clearances of bridges and causeways in navigable waters of United States transferred to and vested in Secretary of Transportation by Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(g)(6)(B), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 941. Pub. L. 97–449 amended this section to reflect transfer made by section 6(g)(6)(B) of Pub. L. 89–670, and repealed section 6(g)(6)(B).