Interpretation

1  In these regulations:

"inspector" means an inspecting engineer or inspector appointed under the provisions of the Act or the Public Service Act;

"company" means a company operating tramways, or interurban or street railway.

[am. B.C. Reg. 40/91, s. 5.]

 Modern and efficient

2  Every company shall provide and cause to be used on all trains and cars modern and efficient apparatus, appliances and means:

(a) Communication — to provide immediate communication between the conductor while in any car of any passenger train and the engineer or motorman;

(b) Brakes — to check at will the speed of the train, and bring same safely to a standstill as expeditiously as possible, and, except under circumstances of sudden danger or emergency, without causing undue discomfort to passengers (if any) on the train;

(c) Couplers — to securely couple and connect the cars composing the train with couplers which couple automatically by impact, and which can be uncoupled without the necessity of men going in between the ends of the cars.

 Drive wheel brake

3  Such apparatus, appliances and means for the checking of speed or the stopping of any train or car shall include a power drive wheel brake and appliances for operating the train brake system upon the locomotive, motor or car.

 Power or train brakes

4  There shall also be such a number of cars in every train equipped with power or train brakes that the engineer or motorman on the locomotive drawing such train can control its speed or bring the train to a stop in the quickest and best manner possible, without requiring the brakemen to use the common handbrake for that purpose.

 Continuous instantaneous action

5  Upon all trains and cars carrying passengers such system of brakes shall be continuous, instantaneous in action and capable of being applied at will by the engineer, motorman or any trainman, and the brakes must be self-applying in the event of any failure in the continuity of their action.

 Box freight cars

6  All box freight cars of the company shall, for the security of the railway employees, be equipped with

(a) outside ladders, on 2 of the diagonally opposite ends and sides of each car projecting below the frame of the car, with one step or rung of each ladder below the frame, the ladders being placed close to the ends and sides to which they are attached, and

(b) hand grips placed anglewise over the ladders of each box car and so arranged as to assist persons in climbing on the roof by means of the ladders; provided that, if there is at any time any other improved side attachment which, in the opinion of the minister, is better calculated to promote the safety of the train hands, the minister may, by certificate under this hand and seal of office, require all cars to be fitted with the said improved attachment.

 Freight car construction

7  All freight cars shall be constructed and equipped in accordance with the rules of the Association of American Railroads.

 Cabooses

8  All cabooses shall be equipped with a gauge connected to the air brake train pipe. The gauge shall be placed in cupola, and also shall be equipped with an emergency discharge valve. Each caboose is to be equipped with an efficient handbrake on both ends of car, and each handbrake is to work in harmony with the power brake thereon.

 Emergency valve

9  All boarding and outfit cars shall be equipped with an emergency valve connected to air brake train pipe. The cord shall be attached to the handle of the emergency discharge valve, and shall run full length of car.

 Equipment of electric locomotive

10  (1)  Every locomotive shall be equipped with a bell of at least 30 pounds weight; also with a foot gong and with a whistle; also be equipped with a step or steps and handholds on both sides and ends.

(2)  Footrests shall be provided on the pilots of every such locomotive sufficiently wide for a man to stand on. Every switching or yard locomotive shall be equipped with footboards to be not less than 10 inches wide and in height from top of rail to top of tread not more than 12 nor less than 9 inches. The back of such footboards shall be protected by a board not less than 4 inches high, and if cut in the centre the inner ends shall be protected in like manner, and footboards and headlights shall be placed on both ends of every locomotive used for switching service, except in cases of emergency. In no case, however, shall any locomotive be continuously used for switching purposes for more than 24 hours without such equipment.

 Height of drawbars

11  Every company shall adopt and use upon all its rolling stock such height of drawbars as the inspector determines in accordance with any standard from time to time adopted by competent railway authorities.

 Delay may be allowed for compliance

12  The inspector may, upon good cause shown, from time to time, grant delay from complying with the provisions of these regulations.

 Loading of lumber, etc.

13  Every company shall strictly conform to the rules and regulations from time to time approved by the Association of American Railroads governing the loading of lumber, logs and stone on open cars, and the loading and carrying of structural material, plates, rails and girders. No material of any kind shall be carried upon the roofs of cars.

 Position of freight cars

14  No passenger train shall have any freight, merchandise or lumber car in the rear of any passenger car in which any passenger is carried.

 Position of passenger cars

15  The carrying capacity of interurban passenger cars shall be the seating capacity only of said cars. On the Central Park Line, British Columbia Electric Railway Company, Limited, during rush hours the carrying capacity in addition to the seating capacity may be increased on the basis of 50% of the seating capacity.

 Baggage compartments

16  All interurban cars carrying checked baggage must be provided with a separate compartment for this purpose.

 Passengers on steps and fenders

17  Passengers are prohibited from riding on fenders or bumpers or upon the steps of car outside the gates or doors, and it shall be the duty of every company and every conductor in charge of a car or train of cars to enforce this regulation.

 Trains to stop at swing spans

18  When any railway passes over any navigable water or canal by means of a draw or swing span which is subject to be opened for navigation, every train or electric car shall be brought to a full stop, and shall not thereafter proceed until a proper signal has been given for that purpose.

 Stoppage of trains at rail level crossings

19  Every engine, train or electric car shall, before it crosses over any railway track at rail level, be brought to a full stop; provided that whenever there is in use at any such crossing an interlocking switch and signal system or other device which, in the opinion of the minister, renders it safe to permit engines and trains of electric cars to pass over such crossing without being brought to a stop, the minister may, by certificate under his hand and seal of office, permit such engines and trains and cars to pass over such crossing without stopping, under such regulations as to speed and other matters as the minister deems proper.

 Trains must not obstruct highway more than 5 minutes

20  Whenever any railway crosses any highway at rail level, the company shall not, nor shall its officers, agents or employees, wilfully permit any engine, tender or car or any portion thereof to stand on any part of such highway for a longer period than 5 minutes at one time, or, in shunting, to obstruct public traffic for a longer period than 5 minutes at one time, or, in the opinion of the minister, unnecessarily interfere therewith.

 Employee examinations

21  No employee shall engage in the operation of interurban tramways or handle train orders unless such employee shall have first passed a satisfactory examination on the regulations and undergone a satisfactory eye and ear test by a competent examiner, and it shall be the duty of every company to enforce the observance of this regulation.

 Examination of conductor, motorman and engineer

22  Every locomotive engineer, motorman and conductor must pass satisfactory examination in regard to the proper care of the equipment, the handling of air brakes, train rules and regulations, and be at least 21 years of age.

 Examination of dispatchers

23  Train dispatchers required to handle train orders shall be at least 21 years of age, be able to write a legible hand, and be thoroughly familiar with and required to pass an examination upon train rules before a competent examiner.

 Passengers in front vestibules

24  Motormen must not allow passengers nor unauthorized persons to ride in front vestibule of cars.

 Possession of copy of rules, etc., by motormen et al

25  Motormen, engineers, conductors and trainmen must have a copy of the company's rules and also a copy of the current time table in their possession while on duty.

 Inspection of cars before going into service

26  All cars and trains must be inspected daily before being allowed to go into service.

 Inspection of freight trains

27  All freight trains must be inspected in accordance with Association of American Railroads' Rules before leaving terminals. Also a terminal test of the air brakes shall be made, and where cars are found defective they shall be set out and repairs made before they are allowed to proceed. When for any reason the train has parted between air cars or air hose has been uncoupled the following test is to be made: After all couplings have again been united brakes must be applied and released by the motorman's or engineer's brake valve, and trainman must see that the brakes on the car immediately behind the point of separation and on the last 2 cars are operating properly.

 Designation of ends of cars

28  The letters "A" and "B" shall be stencilled in the vestibule of cars. The end towards which the cylinder push rod travels shall be known as "B" end and the opposite end as "A" end. When motormen and others make a report of defects, the letters "A" and "B" shall be used to show to which end repairs are necessary.

 Cleaning brake cylinders, etc.

29  All air brake equipment on passenger cars shall be cleaned and tested every 6 months. All air brake equipment on freight equipment shall be cleaned and tested once a year. Brake cylinders shall be stencilled where the work was done, also the month and year. All brake valves and air gauges shall be tested once a month and a small sticker giving date and year shall be stuck on gauge glass.

 Penalties

30  Every company guilty of an infraction of any of these regulations, or of failure to discharge any duty imposed upon it by any of these regulations shall be liable, pursuant to Part 45, sections 274 to 281, of the Railway Act.