Federal Railroad Administration Region 7, Office of Railroad Safety papers

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

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

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.

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.

Federal Railroad Administration Region 7, Office of Railroad Safety papers. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives

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.

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.