1999 Minnesota Statutes

     219.56 Caboose car requirements, standards. 

    It is unlawful for a person, corporation, or company 
 operating a railroad to require or permit the use of caboose 
 cars unless the caboose cars (1) are at least 24 feet in length, 
 exclusive of platforms; (2) have a door at each end; (3) have a 
 dry hopper, gas or electric incinerator, or other suitable 
 toilet facilities; (4) have cupolas, bay windows, platforms, 
 guard rails, grab irons, and steps for the safety of persons 
 getting on or off the caboose cars; and (5) are equipped with at 
 least two four-wheeled trucks.  Shatterproof glass must be used 
 in the doors of the caboose when the present glass is replaced.  
 Each caboose, when placed in service, must be provided with 
 paper cups and at least one gallon of potable water supplied by 
 a water cooler, which is kept sanitary, clean, and operating.  
 When failure of the required equipment or standards of 
 maintenance occurs after a caboose has commenced to move in 
 service, the railroad operating that caboose is not in violation 
 of this section if the failure is corrected at the next initial 
 terminal as defined in section 219.551, subdivision 2.  Caboose 
 cars built or purchased after January 1, 1968, must have 
 underframing and superstructure constructed of steel or a 
 material of equivalent strength and, after January 1, 1972, must 
 also be equipped with a cushioned underframe or cushioned draft 
 gears and shatterproof glass in all doors and windows.  When 
 caboose cars are operated at the rear of a train, as required by 
 section 219.559, they must be equipped with a marker or markers 
 which may consist of flags, lamps, flashing lights, or 
 reflectorized devices. 

    HIST: (4879) 1909 c 382 s 1; 1941 c 230; 1967 c 155 s 1; 1969 
 c 49 s 1; 1971 c 141 s 1; 1973 c 115 s 1; 1985 c 265 art 4 s 1; 
 1988 c 697 s 3