Frog guard rails and guard faces; gage.

(a) The guard check and guard face gages in frogs shall be within the following limits— Table 1 to § 213.143( a ) Class of track Guard check gage Guard face gage The distance between the gage line of a frog to the guard line 1 of its guard rail or guarding face, measured across the track at right angles to the gage line, 2 may not be less than— The distance between guard lines, 1 measured across the track at right angles to the gage line, 2 may not be more than— Class 1 track 4′6 1 ⁄ 8 ″ 4′5 1 ⁄ 4 ″ Class 2 track 4′6 1 ⁄ 4 ″ 4′5 1 ⁄ 8 ″ Class 3 and 4 track 4′6 3 ⁄ 8 ″ 4′5 1 ⁄ 8 ″ Class 5 track 3 4′6 1 ⁄ 2 ″ 4′5″ 1 A line along that side of the flangeway which is nearer to the center of the track and at the same elevation as the gage line. 2 A line five-eighths of an inch below the top of the center line of the head of the running rail, or corresponding location of the tread portion of the track structure. 3 See paragraph (b) of this section. (b) For any heavy-point frog (HPF) on Class 5 track, the guard check gage may be less than 4′6 1/2 ″ but not be less than 4′6 3/8 ″, provided that: (1) Each HPF and guard rails on both rails through the turnout are equipped with at least three serviceable through-gage plates with elastic rail fasteners and guard rail braces that permit adjustment of the guard check gage without removing spikes or other fasteners from the crossties; and (2) Each HPF bears an identifying mark applied by either the track owner, railroad, or the frog manufacturer that identifies the frog as an HPF. [85 FR 63388, Oct. 7, 2020]