How Does The FRA Get Involved With Railroading Today?

Unless a railroad crosses a public road or navigable waterway (and is not connected to tracks that are governed by the FRA) , it is "insular," and the FRA has no jurisdiction. Thus, most theme parks that operate steam do not fall under FRA jurisdiction, and instead must comply with their various state safety agencies.

Likewise, if you restored a narrow gauge steam engine in your back yard, you'd be free to do what you want with the engine (assuming any tracks didn't cross any roads/waterways) .

But if you want to get everything from the horse's mouth, why not look up the actual FRA information yourself? Just google 49 CFR. You can go from about 49 CFR 209 to about 49 CFR 240. You will see there is very little the FRA is NOT involved in!

And concerning light and heavy rail, the FTA has a lot of say.

Dominic Mazoch posted:

And concerning light and heavy rail, the FTA has a lot of say.

What is the "FTA"?

Hot Water posted:

Dominic Mazoch posted:

And concerning light and heavy rail, the FTA has a lot of say.

What is the "FTA"?

Isn't that the FT that has the cab? As opposed to the FT B?

Federal Transit Administration

Rusty

Most _states_ have laws/regulations regarding any and all pressure boilers, even models over a certain size. So even if the FRA has no jurisdiction some state bureau might. Of course if they don't know about your backyard Shay then you're OK, until something happens.

Rusty Traque posted:

Federal Transit Administration

Rusty

Must admit that I have not heard of THAT one.

Agencies within the Department of Transportation

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Maritime Administration (MARAD)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Office of Inspector General (OIG)
Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST)
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC)
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Research and Technology (OST-R)
Surface Transportation Board (STB)

Let Google by your guide.

Charlie

Thanks everyone! I'll let you know if I ever get a Shay in my backyard,  but I don't think the neighborhood I live in allows that!

I guess I will have to build a flyover to avoid making a railroad crossing. I mean, Shays are known for climbing hills!

Just don't, like the steam tractor in Medina, Ohio, blow it up in your back yard, guaranteed to get the attention of a whole slough of bureaucratic agencies you never heard of.

colorado hirailer posted:

Just don't, like the steam tractor in Medina, Ohio, blow it up in your back yard, guaranteed to get the attention of a whole slough of bureaucratic agencies you never heard of.

It would be a miracle if I had a Shay, and don't worry, I wouldn't do it alone!

This little H.K. Porter 0-4-0T belonged to the Father of a close friend of my Mother, but Clyde's "Backyard" was about 6 acres. It also helped that Clyde was a machinist by trade, with his own machine shop business. Clyde had a Love of old machinery, and bought the Porter, a Heisler(3 truck) and a large collection of antique machinery at scrap value for most of it.

The Little Porter was the first live steam throttle I ever pulled. While I did get to see it before Clyde's passing, my only opportunity to run it, came at the Final Steam up in his honor, after his passing. Clyde's collection also included several steam farm tractors, and stationary "Donkeys", and a Stanley Steamer automobile. His collection was nothing short of a medium size museum.

  The Bachmann #1 Gauge Saddle tank Porter(long out of production), is a model of Clyde's locomotive, and I managed to find 2 of them. A couple years ago, I put together some track, transformer and cars(Clyde never had any rolling stock), wrapped it up, and a few days before Christmas, stopped by to "Visit" Linda and Arnie. When Linda opened that package and recognized the Porter as her Father's, she started crying, it had to be one of the Best and most memorable moments that I have had in this hobby.

Unfortunately, the family was not able to keep Clyde's collection, and the Porter was sold to a Private individual in Kelowna, BC who has given Linda an invitation to come see "Her Dad's Porter" whenever she likes. it sounds like the new owner is very personable, and will take Good care of the little Porter.

 You can have a locomotive in your backyard(check local ordinances FIRST!!!!), Clyde's little Porter's boiler did not have a current certificate, and he had fitted it with an 80 PSI safety valve, because of that reason, but it still brought many people, many smiles, not the least of which was mine.

Doug

I can't imagine the sense of pride one would feel after restoring a locomotive as a side project. Kind of reminds me of 765 first movement. My parents were 10 and 4 at the time, so I wasn't there, but every time I watch the excerpt from "Life Begins At 40" I can feel the happiness and pride from the crew. A great feeling.

Brody, it has been many years since I watched that clip. The late Dick James is the narrator on this video. Dick was general manager for a local radio station (WBBW) here in the Youngstown area where I worked part time. He had a great set of pipes. I hired him to do several of my old Hopewell videos.

I also noted that many of the people in that clip are no longer with us. Glenn Brendel, Dick Yager, Larry Randolph and several others in that video have passed on.

It has been 32 years since I produced that video. Good memories...

I had heard about Dick's passing in a NKPH&TS magazine.  It looks like he was the first FWRHS member to run the engine. The only founding members I have met were Wayne York at the Member Day, and Walter Sassmannhausen at a train show at Science Central. He had NKP 710's numberboard and some historic photos of the Berks in action that day. I only recognized him from Listen For The Whistle.