cars.

(2) Use of steel and steel underframe (i) Cars operated in full railway post office authorizations shall be of all-steel construction.

(ii) Only apartment railway post office cars of steel construction shall be operated in trains where a majority of the cars are of steel construction.

(iii) Steel underframe railway post office apartment cars shall not be operated between steel cars, nor between the locomotive and a steel car adjoining, nor in any train where a majority of the cars in the train are of steel construction. Except as provided in subdivisions (iv) and (v) of this subparagraph, all railway post office apartment cars shall be at least equal in construction strength to a majority of the other cars in the train.

(iv) Steel underframe railway post office apartment cars shall be substantially equal in construction to former plan No. 1 or the specification of August 25, 1914, for mainline operation in heavy trains (more than four cars) or on fast schedules (averaging more than 27 miles per hour between termini). Steel underframe railway post office apartment cars having suitable reinforcement on both ends, but only limited reinforcement on the longitudinal sills, may be operated in branch line trains or in light trains (not exceeding four cars) on main lines where the average speed is not more than 27 miles per hour.

(v) Steel underframe railway post office apartment cars operated in "mixed" trains or as trailers to selfpropelled cars shall be substantially equal in construction to former plan No. 1 or the specification of August 25, 1914. In "mixed trains" the railway post office car shall be operated in the rear-end consist, followed only by a passenger coach or caboose. Full-length metal draft gear shall be applied to these cars when deemed necessary.

(vi) One or more cars shall be operated between the locomotive and the railway post office car when practicable.

(3) Inspection by departmental representatives. (i) New, rebuilt and repaired railway post office cars shall be inspected by representatives of the Department in accordance with instructions issued by the Director, Railway Transportation Branch.

(ii) Railroad and car-building companies shall advise the Director, Rail

way Transportation Branch, concerning proposed new construction or rebuilding of railway post office cars and the dates when such cars will be ready for inspection.

(iii) Railroad companies shall notify the proper Distribution and Traffic Manager when cars are received at any of their shops for repairs, so that a representative from the Regional Manager's office may inspect such cars and call attention to needed repairs and improvements. Notice shall also be given as to the date cars are to be "outshopped”, so that an inspection may be made by the Distribution and Traffic Manager's representative if considered necessary.

(iv) Railroad companies shall not "outshop" or return to service any full or apartment railway post office car unless requested changes, improvements and repairs have been made in a manner that is acceptable to the Postal service.

(b) Maintenance-(1) Water and sanitation. (i) Drinking water containers installed in full and apartment railway post office cars shall be of a type which conforms to the standard fixtures specification and has been approved by the Director, Railway Transportation Branch and the United States Public Health Service.

(ii) Drinking water shall be furnished in accordance with the requirements and standards of the United States Public Health Service.

(iii) Fresh water and ice shall be supplied at all times in railway post office cars being used for the distribution of mail.

(iv) Flushing hoppers shall be installed in new and rebuilt full and apartment railway post office cars in accordance with the standard fixtures specification. Flushing hoppers shall be installed in old cars in a manner considered satisfactory by the Director, Railway Transportation Branch.

(v) Toilet paper shall be provided in all cars.

(vi) The water coolers, hoppers and fixtures in railway post office cars shall be thoroughly cleaned after each trip and en route, as often as may be necessary, when in continuous service for more than 24 hours.

(2) Lighting and heating. (i) All cars and parts of cars used in mail service shall be equipped with light fixtures, and adequately lighted in accordance with the standard specification, including

auxiliary lights for use when there is a primary lighting system failure.

(ii) Railway post office cars or apartments shall be lighted by electricity as the primary system when any of the passenger, baggage, or express cars regularly operated in a train are lighted by electricity.

(iii) When the primary lighting system fails to provide sufficient illumination to complete distribution for a period of more than 30 minutes, it shall be regarded as a total light failure. When insufficient light retards or renders distribution difficult for a period of 30 minutes or less, it shall be regarded as a partial light failure.

(iv) A storage battery of the required capacity shall be provided on each electrically lighted full or apartment railway post office car whether the car is equipped with an axle-generator or supplied from a head-end system.

(v) Electric fans shall be installed in all electrically lighted full and apartment railway post office cars.

(vi) Heating shall be provided in all full and apartment railway post office cars in accordance with the standard construction specification.

(vii) Guards shall be constructed and installed over heat pipes and radiators as required by the specification, in order to prevent damage to the mail.

(viii) Stoves shall not be installed in full and apartment railway post office cars without the approval of the Director, Railway Transportation Branch. Stoves which are not of a safety type approved by the Department, shall not be accepted as auxiliary heating systems. Such stoves shall be equipped with safety features which include automatic door fastener for the stove doors (double doors preferred), baffle plate to prevent fire or live coals from escaping through the smoke-flue opening, and metal casing to prevent overheating objects which may closely surround the stove.

(3) Legend to be placed on all RPO cars. (i) Full and apartment railway post office cars shall be lettered on the outside in accordance with the specification for railway post office cars. Cars, or parts of cars, bearing the legend "United States Mail," or "U. S. Mail," shall be reserved exclusively for carrying the mail and shall not be used for other classes of traffic.

(ii) Two properly framed "No admission" notices shall be placed in each

full railway post office car, and one notice in each apartment post office car. These notices shall be located where they may be readily observed on entering the cars at the side doors.

§ 511.35

Services provided by railroads.

(a) Railroad employees—(1) To load and unload mail. A railroad must furnish the necessary employees to handle mail, to load and pile mail into and unload mail from storage and baggage cars except as provided in § 511.36(c) (3) and (d), and to load mail into and receive mail from doorways of RPO cars. Mail intended for delivery to a postal transportation clerk must not be placed in an RPO car unless a postal transportation clerk or an authorized postal representative is on duty.

(2) As agents of railroads. Persons employed to handle mail where a railroad is required to receive and deliver mail from post offices or postal stations or to transfer mail to connecting railroads must be regarded as agents of the railroad and not employees of the Postal Service. They need not be sworn but must be of suitable character and intelligence and more than 16 years of age. Postmasters must promptly report any violation of this requirement to the Department.

(3) Restriction on railroad employees. Train crews must not be permitted to ride in RPO cars while in use, even though an oversize car is furnished.

(b) Special trains—(1) Designation of trains for local service. A railroad carrying mail must designate one scheduled train in each direction in every 24-hour period to stop for the dispatch and receipt of mail at any station or point serving a post office, unless relieved of this requirement by the Department. The stop may be regularly scheduled or made on appropriate signal by a postmaster or mail messenger or on notice to the conductor by a postal transportation clerk or baggageman. A railroad may be permitted, under conditions approved by the Department, to transport mail by motor vehicle instead of local rail service.

(2) For those detoured. (i) When, for any reason, a mail-carrying train is operated between usual termini over a line other than that on which it is regularly operated, payment will be made on the basis of the regular mileage if it is the shorter. If the mileage via the detour is shorter, payment will be made on

the basis of the actual mileage traveled. (ii) When a detour occurs and a special train is operated over part of the regularly authorized run, a railroad will be required to carry in the special train any mail that can be advanced in delivery without additional compensation, if the volume of mail in both trains does not exceed that which could have been accommodated in the regularly authorized space.

Rail

(c) Transfer office facilities. roads shall furnish suitable office space for transfer clerks to perform their duties at points designated by the Department. Such offices must be kept in order by the railroad, lighted, heated, furnished, supplied with ice water, and provided with toilet facilities where such facilities are not otherwise easily accessible.

(d) Timetables and distance circulars (1) Timetables. Railroads must forward timetables, not less than 72 hours before taking effect, to the regional and district transportation managers of the Post Office Department having supervision over service on their lines. They must also notify these officials by telegraph if it becomes necessary to annul, curtail, or suspend service temporarily. Where a representative of the railroad is on duty, he must notify the postmaster as soon as possible after receipt of notice of any change in the schedule of a mail train.

(2) Distance circulars. (i) A railroad shall keep the Post Office Department informed at all times of correct mileage distances between all stations, junctions, or points where mail is put on and off trains. The Department shall be notified immediately of any change in trackage or other facility resulting in changes in mileage distances between such points. Such notification shall be made by submission to the Department, in quadruplicate, of a railroad distance circular, Form No. 2504-B, covering that segment of the route affected. The report shall state the correct distances and furnish the effective date of any change. Claims for pay covering the month following that in which changes in mileage distances occurred shall properly reflect the revised mileage distances.

(ii) In addition to the notification prescribed above a railroad on or before January 1 of each year shall submit to the Department, in quadruplicate, a certificate prepared by the Chief Engineer stating that the mileage distances previ

ously submitted to the Department, including any corrections filed during the previous calendar year, are correct in every respect.

(iii) For purposes of reporting mileage distances to the Department, a railroad shall measure the mileage between stations, junctions, or points where mail is put on and off trains to the nearest hundredth of a mile. The measurement shall be in such a manner that the aggregate of the distances between the individual stations, junctions, or other points where mail is put on or off trains shall not exceed the distance between the origin and destination of the train on which mail is authorized.

(e) Letter boxes. Where the public convenience is better served, the Department may authorize a railroad to place letter boxes in its stations for the receipt of first-class mail other than that for local delivery.

(f) Protection of mail by railroads— (1) Facilities for protection. A railroad is required to furnish all necessary facilities for the proper protection and handling of mail in its custody.

(2) Handling mail on platforms. Mail must not be stored on trucks and allowed to stand on platforms at local stations or transfer points unprotected from depredation. When it is necessary to place close-connection mail on trucks to be left standing on platforms, the mail must be in full view of employees of the railroad at all times. The portion of a platform used for loading, unloading, and transfer of mail must be well lighted. Mail being trucked through subways and tunnels must be carefully guarded.

(3) Holding mail in storage rooms. Rooms in which mail is stored must be locked except when a railroad employee is on duty. A strong light must be provided above the door, and unauthorized employees or unknown persons shall not be allowed in the vicinity. When necessary at small stations to provide proper protection, mail must be stored in a locked room or in a room where railroad employees are present.

(4) Exposing mail to weather. Mail must not be left exposed to weather. Tarpaulins may not be used for protection from weather except in unusual cases or to cover close connection mail being held on station platform trucks.

(5) While exchanging nonstop station mail. A railroad employee or other authorized person shall be assigned to guard mail being exchanged at nonstop

stations. At nonstop points where a railroad station representative is scheduled to be on duty at the time mail is received or dispatched, he must observe the exchange of mail and, if the pouch is not caught, must retrieve it for proper disposition.

(6) No smoking in storage cars. Railroad employees must not smoke or carry lighted cigars, cigarettes, or pipes in storage cars. Distribution and Traffic Managers will take appropriate action with railroad officials in all cases where violations are reported in order to enforce this regulation.

(7) Reports of failure to comply. Postal employees must report to the district transportation manager any failures on the part of a railroad to comply with the instructions in this paragraph.

(g) Withdrawal of car at intermediate point. (1) Where a RPO car is withdrawn at an intermediate point of its run because of an emergency and mail and clerks are transferred to other cars in the train, payment of the full rate will be allowed to the point of withdrawal. Additional pay will not be allowed for later deadhead operation over the remainder of the run.

(2) From the point of withdrawal to destination, payment will be allowed for the car used:

(i) At a prorate of the RPO car rate based upon the amount of space occupied as compared with the amount superseded when accompanied by PTS clerks.

(ii) At lesser storage unit rates based on the volume of mail carried when in the care of railroad representatives.

(3) A railroad will not be required to cut out an apartment car at an intermediate point on the authorized run of the car to substitute another car used for advance distribution.

(h) Irregularities. (1) The Post Office Department may fine a railroad an amount not in excess of the compensation due for the service authorized for failure to furnish an RPO car with sanitary drinking water, adequate toilet facilities, or adequate heat and light; or failure to regularly and thoroughly clean the car, provided the railroad has been given the opportunity to correct the conditions.

(2) The Department may impose fines on railroads for other delinquencies, including:

(i) Allowing the mail, or any part of it, to become wet, lost, injured, or de

stroyed, or conveying or keeping the mail in a place or manner that exposes it to depredation, loss, or injury.

(ii) Refusing, after demand, to transport mail by any car, boat, or other conveyance which the railroad operates or is concerned in operating on a mail route.

(iii) Leaving or putting aside the mail, or any part of it, for the accommodation of passengers, baggage, express, or other matter.

(iv) Habitual failure to observe schedules.

(v) Leaving mail which arrives at a station within a reasonable time before the departure of the train for which it is intended.

(vi) Failure to use the first practicable means of forwarding delayed mail.

(vii) Failure to sound proper signal when approaching a mail crane.

(viii) Failure to furnish proper accommodations for the handling, storage, and, if necessary, the distribution of mail in a railroad station.

(ix) Failure to place an RPO car in a station at the time specified by the Department for the advance distribution of mail.

(x) Permitting storage cars to accumulate at any point for operation in mail, or mail express, sections when suitable trains are available for dispatch to destinations.

(xi) Failure to operate regularly authorized storage cars in designated trains.

(xii) Failure to unload a storage car at the point of destination within the time specified by the Department when the mail is actually delayed.

(3) The fine in each case shall be such sum as the Postmaster General may impose, in view of the gravity of the delinquency, and shall be deducted from the railroad's pay for service on the route on which the delinquency occurred. § 511.36 Handling of mail.

(a) Receipt-(1) Advance deliveries to trains. Where a railroad is responsible for the transfer of mail from a postal unit to a train, the railroad must make advance delivery to a train when the Department requires such delivery earlier than the regular closing time of the mail.

(2) Holding trains for loading. (1) A train shall not depart from a station and leave mail which is:

(a) Being loaded.

(b) Being trucked from vehicles or some part of the station to the train.

(c) Aboard a connecting train that has come to a stop.

(ii) When holding an important train for mail from a delayed connection would cause serious delay and subsequent train service is available within a reasonable period of time, the Department may authorize a time limit beyond which the important train may not be held except to load first-class mail and daily newspapers, and to load foreign mail if necessary to assure steamer connection, as follows:

(a) A railroad must request such authorization, if desired, from the Distribution and Traffic Manager having jurisdiction of the train involved, specifying reasons and a time limit beyond which it is impracticable to hold the train.

(b) Where requests are approved by the Distribution and Traffic Manager, any delayed mail involved must be carried without compensation on a later train to the extent of the unused space authorized on the first train. Additional pay is allowed only when the mail carried exceeds the volume which could have been accommodated in the regularly authorized space.

(iii) A mail train must not be held beyond its scheduled departure for mail originating in local postal units or offices of publication. The Postal Service must fix and enforce an ample time limit in which mail must be delivered to a railroad for dispatch.

(iv) At joint stations where mail is due for transfer from the train of one railroad to that of another, unloaded mail must be held to be in the custody of the outbound railroad which is responsible for the transfer.

(v) When it is necessary to transfer passengers, baggage, or express from one train to another, all mail must also be transferred unless the transfer is a regular connection coming within the provisions of subdivision (ii) of this subparagraph.

(3) Withholding mail from train. Regional transportation managers may withhold from dispatch catalog, circular, parcel post, and ordinary paper mail, in the order named, if necessary and advisable to prevent delay to important trains or to effect economies in transportation. Such mail must be forwarded in regular or excess space in other trains.

(4) Loading by other than railroad employees. Loading as used in this sub

paragraph, is defined as loading, separating and piling in the car.

(i) At plants:

(a) Destination and destination relay cars. The terminal charge (loading) will not apply to destination and destinationrelay cars when loaded by plant employees.

(b) Working storage cars and lesser storage units. When mail is loaded by plant employees, the terminal charge will not apply for loading. The proper unloading charge shall be credited to the originating railroad on mail loaded in working storage cars and lesser storage units. The originating railroad shall make proper interline settlement for these charges.

(ii) Loading by star route and mail messenger contractors:

(a) When all mail at a point is loaded by a contractor, terminal charges shall be credited in the same manner as for plant loaded storage cars and lesser storage units.

(b) When only a portion of the mail is loaded by a contractor and the remainder by railroad employees, the terminal charge will apply to all mail loaded.

(5) Loading storage cars. (i) Storage cars shall be loaded solidly at initial point of the run as far as practicable, observing all safety regulations and leaving only such doorways or aisles as are needed en route to handle mail.

(ii) Where for any reason a railroad fails to load a storage car to its space capacity, and mail is available for loading, pro rata pay will be allowed on the basis of the space capacity load. However, where the weight of the mail is exceptionally heavy and a car satisfactory to the Department is furnished, full payment may be allowed for less than space capacity load.

(iii) Where a storage space unit is carried in an oversize RPO car, the mail shall be handled within the car by postal transportation employees.

(6) Pouch list changes.

Distribution

and Traffic Managers of the Post Office Department shall promptly notify the proper official of a railroad of any changes in the list of pouches to be handled by the railroad.

(b) Nonstop station service. (1) Railroads are required to construct, light, and maintain mail cranes and other adequate facilities for the exchange of mail at points or stations on the run