69-14-232. Size and equipment of caboose. (1) Occupied cabooses must be at least 24 feet in length, exclusive of platforms, and must be provided with a door in each end and with cupolas or bay windows, platforms, guardrails, grabirons, and steps for the safety of persons in alighting or getting on cabooses. Cabooses must be of metal frame construction and must be sufficiently insulated to eliminate track and other related noise above 85 decibels in any octave in the speech range. Other requirements for cabooses are as follows:
     (a) The trucks shall provide riding qualities at least equal to those of freight type trucks modified with elliptical or additional coil springs or other means of equal or greater efficiency and must have at least two four-wheel trucks with standard steel wheels or their equivalent. Draft gears must have a minimum travel of 2 1/2 inches and a minimum capacity of 18,000 foot-pounds and must comply with Association of American Railroads Standard M-901 or its equivalent.
     (b) Electric lighting of at least 40 foot-candles must be provided for direct illumination of the caboose desk, reading areas, and lavatory facilities.
     (c) A spotlight must be provided on the rear of the caboose with sufficient candlepower to illuminate the track for a distance of at least 300 feet to the rear of the caboose during the hours of darkness.
     (d) The caboose marker or markers must be either reflectorized or capable of illumination when required.
     (e) Only glass of the safety-glass type may be used in partitions, doors, windows, or wind deflectors.
     (f) All seats and seat backs must conform to the safety standards designated by the United States department of transportation in its Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 201. All edges and protrusions on seats and seat backs must be rounded to prevent injury to employees.
     (2) Any person, corporation, or company, operating any railroad or railway in this state, violating any of the provisions of this section and 69-14-233 is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not less than $500 or more than $1,000 for each offense.

     History: (1)En. Sec. 1, Ch. 54, L. 1907; Sec. 4338, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 6577, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 6577, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 92, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 32, L. 1977; Sec. 72-622, R.C.M. 1947; (2)En. Sec. 2, Ch. 54, L. 1907; Sec. 4339, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 6578, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 6578, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 72-623, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 72-622(1), 72-623; amd. Sec. 36, Ch. 43, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 607, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 235, L. 1997.