Chapter 12. RAIL MOVEMENT

TM 55-315

CHAPTER 12

RAIL MOVEMENT

Section I. GENERAL

12-1. Purpose and Scope

This chapter outlines specific regulatory and procedural requirements that apply to the rail movement of radioactive

materials. The requirements apply to both carrier-owned and Department of Defenseowned (DODX) railcars.

12-2. Organization and Use

Section II contains regulatory and procedural requirements for rail shipment not listed elsewhere in this manual. Section

III contains user checklists referenced to railway movement regulatory and procedural requirements contained in this and

other chapters of this manual.

Section II. REGULATORY AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS

12-3. Shipping Paper Requirements (49 CFR 174.24, 174.25, and 174.26)

a. Except as provided in b below, no person may accept for rail transport any radioactive material unless he has

received shipping papers prepared according to paragraphs 5-18, 5-19, 5-23, and, when applicable, 5-20 and 5-21.

b. No crew member of a train transporting radioactive material is required to have the shipper's certificate, required

by paragraph 5-19, on the shipping paper in his possession if the original shipping paper containing the. certificate is in

the originating carrier's possession. At least one member of the train crew must have copies of all remaining shipping

papers indicated in a above.

c. Each waybill, switching ticket, switching order, or other billing prepared by the carrier from bills of lading or other

shipping papers, as well as each shipping order used as a waybill for a railcar required to be placarded (paras 5-13 and 5-

17), must, in addition to requirements of a above, be plainly marked with:

(1) If a flatcar is carrying trailers or containers, an indication of which trailers or containers contain the

radioactive materials.

(2) The words RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL in letters not less than 3/8-inch high or in bold uppercase letters not

less than 1/10-inch high inside a rectangle made with asterisks (*) or the number symbol (#). The notation will be near

the space on the face of the billing that is provided for the car number. This provision applies only to material requiring a

Radioactive Yellow-III label.

d. The train crew must have a document showing the position, in the train, of each loaded placarded car containing

hazardous materials, except when the position is changed or added to the train by a crewmember on duty. A train

consist may be used to meet this requirement.

e. Car(s) for personnel escorting shipments will be so positioned in the train as to follow immediately the car

containing the shipment, except that in no case will the occupied portion of the escort car be positioned in such a manner

that a container of radioactive material is closer than that specified in table 12-1.

12-4 Inspection of Certified Railcars

When certified railcars are used, they must be inspected inside and outside by both carrier and shipper, and they must

conform to specifications described in 49 CFR 173 and 174. Prescribed car certificates must be completed in triplicate

and disposed of according to the provisions of the same regulation. The transportation officer at the originating station

will request the carrier to make a preloading inspection of the car before placing it for loading. This request will be made

before the loading date to ensure availability of an acceptable car. The objective of this inspection is to select a car(s)

that meets minimum safety standards without delay en route. The transportation officer will record the results of the in-

12-1