US lawFederal (United States)RegulationsTitle 49 CFR — TransportationChapter II — FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONPart 229 — RAILROAD LOCOMOTIVE SAFETY STANDARDSSubpart C — Safety Requirements229.7149 C.F.R. § 229.71Clearance above top of rail.Last amended: 2017Year: 2026Length: 32 wordsOfficial source Cite as 49 C.F.R. § 229.71 (2026)No part or appliance of a locomotive except the wheels, flexible nonmetallic sand pipe extension tips, and trip cock arms may be less than 2 1/2 inches above the top of rail.Previous49 C.F.R. § 229.69Next49 C.F.R. § 229.73