The provisions of this subpart apply to all rail cars and all locomotives, except steam locomotives, operated or controlled by carriers as defined in subpart A of this part, except that § 201.11 (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to gas turbine-powered locomotives and to any locomotive type which cannot be connected by any standard method to a load cell. They apply to the total sound level emitted by rail cars and locomotives operated under the conditions specified, including the sound produced by refrigeration and air conditioning units which are an integral element of such equipment. The provisions of this subpart apply to all active retarders, all car coupling operations, all switcher locomotives, and all load cell test stands. These provisions do not apply to the sound emitted by a warning device, such as a horn, whistle or bell when operated for the purpose of safety. They do not apply to special purpose equipment which may be located on or operated from railcars; they do not apply to street, suburban or interurban electric railways unless operated as a part of a general railroad system of transportation. When land use changes after the publication date of this regulation from some other use to residential or commercial land use around a specific railyard facility, this regulation will become effective four (4) years from the date of that land use change.

(a) Commencing December 31, 1976, no carrier subject to this regulation shall operate any locomotive to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed on or before December 31, 1979, which produces A-weighted sound levels in excess of 93 dB at any throttle setting except idle, when operated singly and when connected to a load cell, or in excess of 73 dB at idle when operated singly, and when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this part with slow meter response at a point 30 meters (100 feet) from the geometric center of the locomotive along a line that is both perpendicular to the centerline of the track and originates at the locomotive geometric center.

(b) No carrier subject to this regulation shall operate any locomotive to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed after December 31, 1979, which produces A-weighted sound levels in excess of 87 dB at any throttle setting except idle, when operated singly and when connected to a load cell, or in excess of 70 dB at idle when operated singly, and when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this part with slow meter response at a point 30 meters (100 feet) from the geometric center of the locomotive along a line that is both perpendicular to the centerline of the track and originates at the locomotive geometric center.

(c) Commencing January 15, 1984, no carrier subject to this regulation may operate any switcher locomotive to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed on or before December 31, 1979, which produces A-weighted sound levels in excess of 87 dB at any throttle setting except idle, when operated singly and when connected to a load cell, or in excess of 70 dB at idle, and when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this part with slow meter response at a point 30 meters (100 feet) from the geometric center of the locomotive along a line that is both perpendicular to the centerline of the track and originates at the locomotive geometric center. All switcher locomotives that operate in a particular railroad facility are deemed to be in compliance with this standard if the A-weighted sound level from stationary switcher locomotives, singly or in combination with other stationary locomotives, does not exceed 65 dB when measured with fast meter response at any receiving property measurement location near that particular railyard facility and when measured in accordance wtih Subpart C of this regulation.

(a) Commencing December 31, 1976, no carrier subject to this regulation may operate any locomotive or combination of locomotives to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed on or before December 31, 1979, which produces A-weighted sound levels in excess of 96 dB when moving at any time or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration, or deceleration, when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this regulation with fast meter response at 30 meters (100 feet) from the centerline of any section of track having less than a two (2) degree curve (or a radius of curvature greater than 873 meters (2865 feet)).

(b) No carrier subject to this regulation may operate any locomotive or combination of locomotives to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed after December 31, 1979, which produce A-weighted sound levels in excess of 90 dB when moving at any time or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration, or deceleration, when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this part with fast meter response at 30 meters (100 feet) from the centerline of any section of track having less than a two (2) degree curve (or a radius of curvature greater than 873 meters (2,865 feet)).

(c) Commencing January 15, 1984, no carrier subject to this regulation may operate any switcher locomotive or a combination of switcher locomotives to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed on or before December 31, 1979 which produce A-weighted sound levels in excess of 90 dB when moving at any time or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration, and when measured in accordance with the criteria in Subpart C of this part with fast meter response at 30 meters (100 feet) from the centerline of any section of track having less than a two (2) degree curve (or a radius of curvature greater than 873 meters (2,865 feet)). All switcher locomotives that operate in a particular railroad facility are deemed to be in compliance with this standard if the A-weighted sound level from stationary switcher locomotives, singly or in combination with other stationary locomotives, does not exceed 65 dB when measured with fast meter response at any receiving property measurement location near that particular railyard facility and when measured in accordance with Subpart C of this regulation.

Effective December 31, 1976, no carrier subject to this regulation shall operate any rail car or combination of rail cars which while in motion produce sound levels in excess of (1) 88 dB(A) at rail car speeds up to and including 75 km/hr (45 mph); or (2) 93 dB(A) at rail car speeds greater than 72 km/hr (45 mph); when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this part with fast meter response at 30 meters (100) feet from the centerline of any section of track which is free of special track work or bridges or trestles and which exhibits less than a two (2) degree curve (or a radius of curvature greater than 873 meters (2,865 feet)).

Effective January 15, 1984, no carrier subject to this regulation shall operate retarders that exceed an adjusted average maximum A-weighted sound level of 83 dB at any receiving property measurement location, when measured with fast meter response in accordance with Subpart C of this part.

Effective January 15, 1984, no carrier subject to this regulation shall conduct car coupling operations that exceed an adjusted average maximum A-weighted sound level of 92 dB at any receiving property measurement location, when measured with fast meter response in accordance with Subpart C of this part, except, such coupling will be found in compliance with this standard and the carrier will be considered in compliance, if the railroad demonstrates that the standard is exceeded at the receiving property measurement locations (where the standard was previously exceeded) when cars representative of those found to exceed the standard are coupled at similar locations at coupling speeds of eight miles per hour or less.

(a) Effective January 15, 1984, no carrier subject to this reguation shall operate locomotive load cell test stands that exceed an A-weighted sound level of 78 dB when measured with slow meter response in accordance with Subpart C of this part excluding § 201.23 (b) and (c), at a point 30 meters (100 feet) from the geometric center of the locomotive undergoing test, along a line that is both perpendicular to the centerline of the track and originates at the locomotive geometric center, and in the direction most nearly towards the closest receiving property measurement location. All locomotive load cell test stands in a particular railroad facility are in compliance with this standard if the A-weighted sound level from the load cell does not exceed 65 dB at any receiving property measurement location near that particular railyard facility and when measured with fast meter response in accordance with Subpart C of this regulation.

(b) If the conditions of any part of § 201.23(a) cannot be met at a specific load cell test stand site, then the A-weighted sound level from that specific load cell test stand must not exceed 65 dB when measured with fast meter response at a receiving property measurement location more than 120 meters (400 feet) from the geometric center of the locomotive being tested and in accordance with Subpart C of this regulation.