Federal regulations · Through 2026-08-25 · Newer source version available

49 CFR 238.217: Side structure.

Each passenger car shall comply with the following:
(a) Side posts and corner braces. (1) For modified girder, semi-monocoque, or truss construction, the sum of the section moduli in inches 3—about a longitudinal axis, taken at the weakest horizontal section between the side sill and side plate—of all posts and braces on each side of the car located between the body corner posts shall be not less than 0.30 multiplied by the distance in feet between the centers of end panels.
(2) For modified girder or semi-monocoque construction only, the sum of the section moduli in inches 3—about a transverse axis, taken at the weakest horizontal section between the side sill and side plate—of all posts, braces and pier panels, to the extent available, on each side of the car located between body corner posts shall be not less than 0.20 multiplied by the distance in feet between the centers of end panels.
(3) The center of an end panel is the point midway between the center of the body corner post and the center of the adjacent side post.
(4) The minimum section moduli or thicknesses specified in paragraph (a) of this section may be adjusted in proportion to the ratio of the yield strength of the material used to that of mild open-hearth steel for a car whose structural members are made of a higher strength steel.
(b) Sheathing. (1) Outside sheathing of mild, open-hearth steel when used flat, without reinforcement (other than side posts) in a side frame of modified girder or semi-monocoque construction shall not be less than 1/8 inch nominal thickness. Other metals may be used of a thickness in inverse proportion to their yield strengths.
(2) Outside metal sheathing of less than 1/8 inch thickness may be used only if it is reinforced so as to produce at least an equivalent sectional area at a right angle to reinforcements as that of the flat sheathing specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(3) When the sheathing used for truss construction serves no load-carrying function, the minimum thickness of that sheathing shall be not less than 40 percent of that specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

Where this section sits in the code

Title 49—Transportation
Subtitle B—Other Regulations Relating to Transportation
CHAPTER II—FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PART 238—PASSENGER EQUIPMENT SAFETY STANDARDS
Subpart C—Specific Requirements for Tier I Passenger Equipment

Each passenger car shall comply with the following:

(a) Side posts and corner braces. (1) For modified girder, semi-monocoque, or truss construction, the sum of the section moduli in inches 3—about a longitudinal axis, taken at the weakest horizontal section between the side sill and side plate—of all posts and braces on each side of the car located between the body corner posts shall be not less than 0.30 multiplied by the distance in feet between the centers of end panels.

(2) For modified girder or semi-monocoque construction only, the sum of the section moduli in inches 3—about a transverse axis, taken at the weakest horizontal section between the side sill and side plate—of all posts, braces and pier panels, to the extent available, on each side of the car located between body corner posts shall be not less than 0.20 multiplied by the distance in feet between the centers of end panels.

(3) The center of an end panel is the point midway between the center of the body corner post and the center of the adjacent side post.

(4) The minimum section moduli or thicknesses specified in paragraph (a) of this section may be adjusted in proportion to the ratio of the yield strength of the material used to that of mild open-hearth steel for a car whose structural members are made of a higher strength steel.

(b) Sheathing. (1) Outside sheathing of mild, open-hearth steel when used flat, without reinforcement (other than side posts) in a side frame of modified girder or semi-monocoque construction shall not be less than 1/8 inch nominal thickness. Other metals may be used of a thickness in inverse proportion to their yield strengths.

(2) Outside metal sheathing of less than 1/8 inch thickness may be used only if it is reinforced so as to produce at least an equivalent sectional area at a right angle to reinforcements as that of the flat sheathing specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

(3) When the sheathing used for truss construction serves no load-carrying function, the minimum thickness of that sheathing shall be not less than 40 percent of that specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

Collected 2026-08-27T02:26:34Z. Source file · JSON

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