49 CFR § 236.57 - Shunt and fouling wires.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s236.57"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 236.57 - Shunt and fouling wires."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "236.57"
section_name: "Shunt and fouling wires."
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"
---


# 236.57 Shunt and fouling wires.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, shunt wires and fouling wires hereafter installed or replaced shall consist of at least two discrete conductors, and each shall be of sufficient conductivity and maintained in such condition that the track relay will be in deenergized position, or device that functions as a track relay will be in its most restrictive state, when the circuit is shunted.

(b) This rule does not apply to shunt wires where track or control circuit is opened by the switch circuit controller.

[49 FR 3383, Jan. 26, 1984]