49 CFR § 229.61 - Draft system.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s229.61"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 229.61 - Draft system."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "229.61"
section_name: "Draft system."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "229"
part_name: "RAILROAD LOCOMOTIVE SAFETY STANDARDS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
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."
regulatory_source: "45 FR 21109, Mar. 31, 1980, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "229"
---


# 229.61 Draft system.

(a) A coupler may not have any of the following conditions:

(1) A distance between the guard arm and the knuckle nose of more than 5
5/16 inches on D&E couplers.

(2) A crack or break in the side wall or pin bearing bosses outside of the shaded areas shown in Figure 1 or in the pulling face of the knuckle.

(3) A coupler assembly without anti-creep protection.

(4) Free slack in the coupler or drawbar not absorbed by friction devices or draft gears that exceeds one-half inches.

(5) A broken or cracked coupler carrier.

(6) A broken or cracked yoke.

(7) A broken draft gear.

(b) A device shall be provided under the lower end of all drawbar pins and articulated connection pins to prevent the pin from falling out of place in case of breakage.

[77 FR 21346, Apr. 9, 2012]