Arizona Administrative Code
Title 14 - PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS; CORPORATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS; SECURITIES REGULATION
Chapter 5 - CORPORATION COMMISSION - TRANSPORTATION
Article 1 - RAILROADS
Section R14-5-109 - Industrial Track Standards

a. Maximum grade of any proposed track, as shown on any plan, shall be 2% and shall not be exceeded. At all locations, excessive grades and frequent changes of grade shall be avoided. Where grade line changes, appropriate vertical curves shall be installed.

b. In cut sections, grade line shall be uniform throughout the cut to facilitate proper drainage. Grades in cuts shall not be less than 3/10% and not more than 1%.

a. Where soil condition, drainage conditions or amount of traffic justify, the upper portion of the subgrade shall be designed to provide adequate support. Methods of increasing support shall be to provide select material to an adequate supporting depth over the existing subgrade or subgrade stabilization.

b. The depth of any proposed material shall be specified by the design plans.

c. The upper portion of any subgrade to be stabilized shall be stabilized by thoroughly mixing suitable chemical additives such as cement, fly ash, or lime with the soil before compaction.

d. Each layer shall be fully compacted by approved mechanical compacting equipment before the next layer is placed. A fully compacted layer shall have a dry density of at least 95% of the maximum dry density.

e. Type of soil and soil conditions shall be indicated on any proposed plans along with typical sections showing rail, tie ballast, subballast, and any other appurtenances.

a. Each drainage or other water-carrying facility under or immediately adjacent to the roadbed shall be maintained and kept free of obstruction to accommodate expected water flow for the area concerned.

b. Every effort shall be made to keep the tracks, roadbed, and walkways properly drained at all times.

a. Ballast material shall conform to the recommended specifications contained in the American Railroad Engineering Association "Manual for Railway Engineering" (AREA Manual), as amended and revised through July 31, 1990, incorporated herein by reference, on file with the office of the Secretary of State, and copies available from the American Railroad Engineering Association, 50 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. The gradation of a ballast material shall be a prime consideration in track performance of ballast materials. Ballast material used in industrial tracks shall be not less than 3/4 of an inch to 1 1/2 inches, pursuant to AREA No. 4 gradation in the AREA Manual.

b. Ballast material may be crushed rock, slag, or equally stable material that will provide uniform support to the ties, will drain properly, and is not chemically reactive. The material used for ballast shall not short track signals. Quarried stone or slag produced in a crushing-screening plant shall be preferred when it satisfies all of the following specifications:

c. Prior to installation, the supplier shall provide the railroad or industrial track owner with certified test results of ballast quality and grading.

d. Care shall be used to ensure even distribution of ballast in the track. A minimum ballast depth of 8 inches below the ties shall be acceptable as a subballast base. Ballast shall be inserted under ties in convenient lifts but under not less than two lifts. Proper cross level, line and grade shall be attained on the final lift in accordance with currently accepted practice.

e. Top of track ballast shall be dressed parallel with top of rails to a depth of 1 inch below top of tie extending 6 inches beyond end of tie. Ballast shall be thoroughly tamped for each tie end to 15 inches inside of rail. Centers shall be filled but not tamped. All work of track laying and surfacing shall be of the highest quality in accordance with currently accepted practice.

f. Each owner of the track to which the ballast standards apply shall maintain proper track cross level, surface, and alignment prescribed as follows:

a. Crossties shall be either hardwood or softwood in accordance with the requirements of this Section.

b. Wooden crossties shall be new and manufactured from the following kinds of wood: Douglas fir, red oak, white oak, cypress, southern and western pine, elm, hickory, gum, or hemlock.

c. All wooden ties shall be made from sound, straight live timber and shall be free from any defects that may impair their strength and durability, such as bark, decay, splits, shakes, large or numerous holes or knots, pitch seams, pitch rings, grain with slant greater than 1 in 15, or other imperfections.

d. All crossties shall be a minimum of 8 feet in length. Ties shall measure 6 inches thick by 8 inches wide on top, AREA No. 6 grade. If a 6-inch wide base rail is used, 7-inch by 9-inch ties shall be required. All crossties shall be branded with the seller's symbol to indicate line end.

e. Crossties shall be spaced a maximum of 24 inches center to center. Each 39 feet of track shall be supported by a minimum of 19 crossties. The center of the ties shall coincide with the centerline of the track and the ties shall be laid at right angles to the rail with the wide-face up.

f. Hardwood ties shall be used on all curves of 2 degrees and over. Softwood ties shall be permitted on other curves and tangents.

g. Ties shall be inspected at suitable and convenient places satisfactory to the railroad or industry owner. Inspection shall include a reasonably close examination of the top, bottom, sides, and ends of each tie. All ties shall be judged independently using the following standards:

h. The maximum distance between non-defective timber crossties shall be 70 inches, center of tie to center of tie.

i. A timber crosstie shall be considered defective when it is all of the following:

j. Industry track shall have at least one non-defective crosstie whose centerline is within 18 inches of the rail joint location.

k. Used crossties, although not recommended, may be used subject to prior approval from the Commission.

l. Treated tie plugs of proper size shall be used to fill holes tightly and driven into old spike holes of used ties. Approved granular tie plug material may be used in lieu of treated tie plugs.

a. Switch ties shall be new and shall be hardwood in accordance with the requirements of this Section. Switch ties shall be located as shown on the turnout plans.

b. All switch ties shall be 7 inches thick by 9 inches wide in cross section. Switch tie length shall be as indicated on the turnout plans in 1 foot increments.

c. All switch ties shall be sawed top, bottom and sides, cut square at the ends, have top and bottom parallel, and have bark entirely removed.

a. Tie plates shall be placed under each rail at every tie. The tie plates shall be placed with the shoulder squarely against the rail.

b. No crooked tie plates shall be permitted. Each tie plate shall be of proper design to fit the rail section being used.

a. All rail used in industrial track construction shall weigh a minimum of 90 pounds per yard. The majority of rails used shall be a minimum of 30 feet in length, with no more than 20% of varying lengths down to 24 feet, except as required in switches.

b. Rail shall be laid with joints staggered so that joints on one side will not be more than 4 feet from center of the opposite rail. The best running side of the relay railhead shall form the gage side of the rail as laid.

c. Rails shall be new or equal to No. 2 relay rail or No. 3 relay rail as per the AREA Manual recommendations for rail grading classifications. Overflow on one or both sides shall be less than 1/4 of an inch. Base shall be solid and free of visual defects with only minor pitting. Relay rail shall be considered to be used material.

d. The bottom of rail, tie plate, and top surface of tie shall be clean and smooth to provide for full bearing for rails and tie plates.

e. The use of a torch for cutting track rail, except for field welds or for burning bolt holes shall be prohibited. A rail saw or rail chisel properly and expertly used for cutting and a hand or power rail drill for boring holes shall be employed. All chips and burrs shall be removed and all drilled holes shall be peened. The bolt hole shall conform to the standard plans.

f. Angle bars of approved design shall be properly fitted against the rail and properly bolted. Each joint shall be bolted with at least two bolts through each rail end. Joint bars cracked or broken through between the middle two bolts shall be replaced. Compromise and insulated joint bars of proper design shall be used where rail size and conditions dictate. Track bolts, of proper size, fitted with approved spring washers, shall be fully tightened to proper tension.

a. Each rail will be spiked with two spikes per tie plate on tangent track, staggered with inside spikes to the east or north, outside spikes to the west or south.

b. Spikes shall be 5/8 of an inch wide by 6 inches long.

c. Track spikes shall be started and driven vertically with face shank in contact with the rail so that the face of the spike shall have full hold on rail base. Damage to tie timber fiber shall be minimized.

d. Spikes shall not be struck after head is down to snug contact with the railbase. Care shall be taken not to overdrive spikes and rail shall not be gouged or struck with spike maul or other tool.

e. In the construction of road crossings and turnouts, line spikes and hold down or anchor spikes shall also be used throughout the crossing and turnout closure rails. Hold down or anchor spikes shall be used on curves of 5 degrees or more.

a. Gage is measured between the heads of the rails at right angles to the rails in a plane 5/8 of an inch below the top of the railhead.

b. In new industrial construction the rails shall be gaged to 4 feet 8 1/2 inches.

c. Rail gage shall be maintained at not less than 4 feet 8 inches, nor more than 4 feet 9 3/4 inches for both curved and tangent track.

a. 16 anchors per 39 feet of track shall be used, and 4 nonconsecutive ties shall be box-anchored per rail.

b. Anchors shall be used throughout the turnout area. The same tie shall be box-anchored across.

c. Anchors shall not be placed on joint ties or ties adjacent to joint ties.

d. Additional anchors shall be applied where longitudinal rail movement needs to be effectively controlled.

a. Gage rods may be used on curves where it is difficult to maintain gage.

b. On curves between 7 degrees and 10 degrees, 4 gage rods per 39-foot panel shall be installed and on curves between 10 degrees and 12 degrees, 5 gage rods per 39-foot panels shall be installed.

a. Each stock rail shall be securely seated in switch plates, but care shall be taken to avoid canting the rail by overtightening the rail braces.

b. Each switch point shall fit its stock rail properly, with the switch stand in either of its closed positions to allow wheels to pass the switch point. Lateral and vertical movement of a stock rail in the switch plates or of a switch plate on a tie shall not adversely affect the fit of the switch point to the stock rail.

c. Each switch shall be maintained so that the outer edge of the wheel tread cannot contact the gage side of the stock rail.

d. The heel of each switch rail shall be secure and the bolts in each heel shall be kept tight.

e. Each switch stand and connecting rod shall be securely fastened and operable without excessive lost motion.

f. Unusually chipped or worn switch points shall be repaired or replaced. Metal flow shall be removed to ensure proper closure.

g. The railroad shall be responsible for the installation and maintenance of switches connecting industrial track to railroad track facilities.

h. Owners of industrial switches shall be responsible for the installation and maintenance of their switches.

i. "Run-through" or damaged switches shall be repaired immediately.

a. Derails shall be installed where grade or other conditions indicate the need.

b. Derails shall be installed so that derailed cars will not foul or damage adjacent track or railroad structures.

c. Derail signs shall be clearly visible.

d. When in a locked position, the derail shall be free of lost motion which will allow it to be operated without removing the lock.

a. Car stops or bumping posts shall be installed at the end of all industry spur tracks.

b. Car stops or bumping posts may be of any design that will adequately stop a car without damaging the car, such as, "wheelstops", "drawbar stop", or "earth-tie stop".