49 CFR § 236.16 - Electric lock, main track releasing circuit.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s236.16"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 236.16 - Electric lock, main track releasing circuit."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "236.16"
section_name: "Electric lock, main track releasing circuit."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "236"
part_name: "RULES, STANDARDS, AND INSTRUCTIONS GOVERNING THE INSTALLATION, INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND APPLIANCES"
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. 20102-20103, 20107, 20133, 20141, 20157, 20301-20303, 20306, 20501-20505, 20701-20703, 21301-21302, 21304; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89."
regulatory_source: "33 FR 19684, Dec. 25, 1968, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "236"
---


# 236.16 Electric lock, main track releasing circuit.

When an electric lock releasing circuit is provided on the main track to permit a train or an engine to diverge from the main track without time delay, the circuit shall be of such length to permit occupancy of the circuit to be seen by a crew member stationed at the switch. When the releasing circuit extends into the fouling circuit, a train or engine on the siding shall be prevented from occupying the releasing circuit by a derail either pipe-connected to switch point or equipped with an independently operated electric lock.

[49 FR 3383, Jan. 26, 1984]