49 CFR § 238.407 - Anti-climbing mechanism.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s238.407"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 238.407 - Anti-climbing mechanism."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "238.407"
section_name: "Anti-climbing mechanism."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "238"
part_name: "PASSENGER EQUIPMENT 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, 20141, 20302-20303, 20306, 20701-20702, 21301-21302, 21304; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89."
regulatory_source: "64 FR 25660, May 12, 1999, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "238"
---


# 238.407 Anti-climbing mechanism.

(a) Each power car shall have an anti-climbing mechanism at its forward end capable of resisting an ultimate upward or downward static vertical force of 200,000 pounds. A power car constructed with a crash energy management design is permitted to crush in a controlled manner before the anti-climbing mechanism fully engages.

(b) Interior train coupling points between units, including between units of articulated cars or other permanently joined units of cars, shall have an anti-climbing mechanism capable of resisting an upward or downward vertical force of 100,000 pounds without yielding.

(c) The forward coupler of a power car shall be attached to the car body to resist a vertical downward force of 100,000 pounds for any horizontal position of the coupler without yielding.