49 CFR § 229.71 - Clearance above top of rail.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s229.71"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 229.71 - Clearance above top of rail."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "229.71"
section_name: "Clearance above top of rail."
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"
---


# 229.71 Clearance above top of rail.

No part or appliance of a locomotive except the wheels, flexible nonmetallic sand pipe extension tips, and trip cock arms may be less than 2
1/2 inches above the top of rail.