Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Biography/Administrative History
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Federal Railroad Administration Region 7, Office of Railroad Safety papers
Dates: 1913-1993
Collection Number: MS 638
Creator/Collector:
Federal Railroad Administration, Record of Office Safety, Region 7
Extent: 1 box
Repository:
California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives
Sacramento, California 95814
Abstract: This collection includes correspondence between the Federal Railroad Administration's Office of Railroad Safety in Region
7 and railroad officials. Region 7 is headquartered in Sacramento, California and covers California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.
Language of Material: English
Access
This collection is open for research at our off-site storage facility with one week's notice. Contact Library & Archives
staff to arrange for access.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Capital District Collections Manager. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the CSRM as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright
holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
Federal Railroad Administration Region 7, Office of Railroad Safety papers. California State Railroad Museum Library and
Archives
Biography/Administrative History
The Boiler Inspection Act of 1911 gave the Interstate Commerce Commission responsibility for the enforcement of federal safety
standards for steam locomotive boilers through its new Division of Locomotive Boiler Inspection. In 1915, responsibility
was expanded to include the entire locomotive engine and tender, and consequently, the Division was renamed the Division of
Locomotive Inspection, which then became the Bureau of Locomotive Inspection (October 17, 1917).
In 1954 the Bureaus of Safety, Locomotive Inspection, and Service were consolidated to form the Bureau of Safety and Service.
An ICC reorganization in 1965 changed the name to the Bureau of Railroad Safety and Service (BRSS). In 1967, the BRSS was
abolished and its safety activities were transferred to the Department of Transportation’s newly formed Federal Railroad
Administration, Office of Railroad Safety.
Organized into eight regional offices, the Office of Railroad Safety regulates five different aspects of railroad safety,
each with its own inspectors and specialists: hazardous materials, motive power and equipment, operating practices, signal
and train control, and track structures.
The Motive Power and Equipment section is charged with carrying out periodic and unannounced inspections of railroad cars
and locomotives to ensure that they are in compliance with federal safety standards, to inspect and observe tests of railroad
rolling stock, and to investigate accidents.
Scope and Content of Collection
Includes documents pertaining to inspection work performed by the Motive Power and Equipment inspectors R.E. Higgins, 1927-1939,
John L. Ernst, 1939-1950, Harry L. Taylor, 1950-1953, William A. Jeffers, 1950-1964, R.W. Everett, 1951-1961, William L. Humble,
1959-1960, Mr. White, 1962 (Salt Lake City), Roy D. Barker, 1967-1980, Ralph C. Montgomery, 1979-1980, V.L. McMahon, 1980,
and J.F. Broschart, 1980.
Material includes: letters, petitions, annual locomotive inspection and repair reports, and specification cards for locomotive
boilers.
Subjects include: reminders to comply with locomotive inspection laws, inspections of boiler, tender and safety apparatuses,
notices of violations, requests for waivers of compliance or extensions of time meeting safety glazing standards, the installation
of switching steps, the removal of flues, having hydrostatic and hammer tests or meter and insulation tests performed, or
special inspection of safety appliance equipment.
Arranged alphabetically by railroad.