Chapter 192

192.321   Getting on and off cars.

192.324   Railroad bridges to be safe for employees.

192.327   Motor vehicles of railroads used to transport its employees.

192.33   Fences, cattle guards, crossings.

192.34   Fences; complaint of insufficient; hearing; order.

192.35   Interference with fences; trespassers on track.

192.36   Fences, occupant of land may build or repair.

192.37   Fences, farm crossings; railroads to provide.

192.38   Contracts not affected.

192.43   Liability of carrier of passengers made absolute.

192.44   Fires; railroad liability; action for damages.

192.47   Railroad police; oath; powers.

192.52   Terminals and shops, removal.

192.53   Railroad track clearance.

192.54   General penalty for this chapter.

192.55   Special penalties for this chapter.

192.56   Abandoning of railroad stations.

192.73   Sale of abandoned rail property after release by state.

192.80   Full crew employee rights.

Ch. 192 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also RR, Wis. adm. code.

192.001 192.001 Definitions. In this chapter:

192.001(1m) (1m) “Department” means the department of transportation.

192.001(2) (2) “Office” means the office of the commissioner of railroads.

192.001 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1981 c. 347; 1983 a. 189; 1993 a. 16, 123.

192.005 192.005 Scope of chapter. Each provision of this chapter applies only to the extent that it is not contrary to or inconsistent with federal law or the constitution of the United States.

192.005 History History: 2005 a. 179.

192.15 192.15 Engine equipment.

192.15(1) (1) This section shall apply to all engines or locomotives used in operating a railroad.

192.15(2) (2) For purposes of this section:

192.15(2)(a) (a) “Cab” means the crew compartment of the engine.

192.15(2)(b) (b) “Control unit” means the unit which controls the movement of multiple units.

192.15(2)(c) (c) “Engine” means a locomotive or a unit propelled by any form of energy, or a combination of such units operated from a single control, used in train or yard service.

192.15(2)(d) (d) “Initial terminal” means the terminal within the state from which an engine is dispatched and at which maintenance supplies are available or at which regular maintenance forces are available to repair defective equipment.

192.15(2)(e) (e) “Railroad” means a railroad operated as a common carrier in this state.

192.15(3) (3) Cabs shall be sufficiently insulated to reduce noise in the cab in accordance with federal regulations.

192.15(4) (4) Cabs shall be provided with at least 2 doors for exiting in 2 different directions. Exterior platforms shall be equipped with appropriate hand or guard rails. All ladders and steps shall be equipped with grab irons for the safety of persons getting on and off.

192.15(5) (5) Wherever glass and glazing materials are used on exterior engine doors or windows they shall be in compliance with federal regulations.

192.15(6) (6) Cab doors and windows shall be weatherstripped to prevent drafts and noxious odors from entering the cab. Cabs shall be heated to maintain a minimum temperature of 50° Fahrenheit and shall be insulated to retain heat. Heaters shall be in proper working order whenever the engine is in use.

192.15(7) (7) Cabs shall be supplied with a drinking cup dispenser with a supply of cups. At least one gallon of sanitary water from a water cooler or sealed containers of water from a refrigerated cooler shall be in the cab at the time of departure from the initial terminal.

192.15(8) (8) Each cab used in train service more than 25 miles from an initial terminal shall be equipped with a suitable retention toilet facility. If locomotives are operated in multiple units only the control unit needs to comply with the toilet facility requirement. All toilet facilities shall be sanitary and operational when placed in service at the initial terminal.

192.15(9) (9) Each cab shall be in a clean and sanitary condition when placed in service.

192.15(10) (10) A cab used in train service shall be equipped with a speedometer functioning accurately within 3 miles per hour. If locomotives are operated in multiple units only the control unit needs to comply with the speedometer requirement.

192.15(11) (11) Engines shall be equipped with whistles or horns mounted to face the direction in which the engine is moving and placed to emit a warning sound at a sound level which accords with established practices to warn employees and the public of the engine’s approach.

192.15(12) (12) All cabs shall be equipped with at least one portable foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide type fire extinguisher with a minimum capacity of 1-1/4 gallon or 5 pounds. The extinguisher shall be placed in a readily accessible location and shall be effectively maintained.

192.15(13) (13) If a failure of required equipment or standards of maintenance, as set forth under this section, occurs after an engine has commenced a trip or tour of duty in service, it shall be corrected at the first point at which maintenance supplies are available, or, in case of repairs, prior to the next assignment.

192.15(14) (14) If in any particular case any exemption from any requirement of this section is deemed necessary by a carrier, the office shall consider the application of the carrier for exemption and may grant the exemption when accompanied by a full statement of the conditions existing and the reasons for the exemption. Any exemption so granted shall be limited to the particular case specified and shall be limited to a stated period of time.

192.15(15) (15) Compliance with this section shall be accomplished within 5 years of November 17, 1977. The requirements stated in this section shall be deemed complied with by equipment or standards or maintenance equal or superior to those prescribed in this section.

192.15 History History: 1977 c. 155; 1981 c. 347 s. 80 (1); 1993 a. 16, 123.

192.17 192.17 Arrest of passenger; police power of conductors. If it shall become necessary for the protection of the passengers on any railroad car from the violent, abusive, profane or indecent language or conduct of any passenger, the conductor may arrest such passenger and keep the passenger in the baggage car or some other safe and secure place on such train until its arrival at some usual stopping place, when the passenger may be put off the train and given into the custody of some officer for prosecution; and for this purpose conductors, while in charge of trains, may exercise the powers of sheriffs.

192.17 History History: 1993 a. 482.

192.25 192.25 Railroad train crews.

192.25(1) (1) In this section:

192.25(1)(a) (a) “Certified railroad locomotive engineer” means a person certified under 49 CFR 240 as a train service engineer, locomotive servicing engineer or student engineer.

192.25(1)(b) (b) “Qualified railroad trainman” means a person who has successfully completed a railroad carrier’s training program and passed an examination on railroad operation rules.

192.25(2) (2) No person operating or controlling any railroad, as defined in s. 85.01 (5), may allow the operation of any railroad train or locomotive in this state unless the railroad train or locomotive has a crew of at least 2 individuals. One of the individuals shall be a certified railroad locomotive engineer. The other individual shall be either a certified railroad locomotive engineer or a qualified railroad trainman. A certified railroad locomotive engineer shall operate the control locomotive at all times that the railroad train or locomotive is in motion. The other crew member may dismount the railroad train or locomotive when necessary to perform switching activities and other duties in the course of his or her job.

192.25(3) (3) 

192.25(3)(a) (a) The office, by rule, may grant an exception to sub. (2) if the office determines that the exception will not endanger the life or property of any person.

192.25(3)(b) (b) Subsection (2) does not apply to the extent that it is contrary to or inconsistent with a regulation or order of the federal railroad administration.

192.25(4) (4) Any person who violates sub. (2) may be required to forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $100 for a first offense, not less than $100 nor more than $500 for a 2nd offense committed within 3 years, and not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for a 3rd offense committed within 3 years.

192.25 History History: 1997 a. 42.

192.25 Annotation This section is preempted by federal law except to the extent that sub. (2) prohibits over-the-road train operation unless there is a train crew of at least 2. However over-the-road operations may also be exempted by specific agreement between the Federal Railway Administration and an individual railroad. Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. v. Doyle, 186 F.3d 790 (1999).

192.27 192.27 Connecting tracks and switching.

192.27(1) (1) When the track of a railway corporation crosses the track of any other railway corporation at grade, or when their tracks and right-of-way are adjacent, except in counties having a population of at least 150,000, the corporations shall, within 60 days after a written request of the office or the council or board of the city, town or village within which the tracks so cross or are adjacent, make a track connection within such town, city or village to afford reasonable and proper facilities for the interchange of traffic between their respective lines for forwarding and delivering freight, and the expense thereof shall be borne equally by those corporations, unless otherwise ordered by the office.

192.27(2) (2) Any railroad corporation neglecting or refusing to comply with the provisions of this section shall forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $100 for each offense. Each day that the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

192.27 History History: 1981 c. 347 s. 80 (1); 1993 a. 16, 123; 1997 a. 254.

192.29 192.29 Train bells and crossing signs at street and highway crossings.

192.29(3) (3) Bell to ring, municipal authority.

192.29(3)(a) (a) No railroad train or locomotive shall run over any public traveled grade crossing within any city or village, except where gates are operated, or a flagman is stationed, unless the engine bell shall be rung continuously within 330 feet of the crossing and until the crossing is reached.

192.29(3)(b) (b) Flagmen or gates shall be placed and maintained, or such mechanical safety appliances shall be installed upon such public traveled grade crossings in villages and cities as the city or village authorities and the railroad company may by agreement decide; such agreement may include the apportionment of the cost of installation of such mechanical devices.

192.29(4) (4) Highways; bell. No railroad train or locomotive shall run over any public traveled grade highway crossing outside of the limits of municipalities unless the engine bell shall be rung continuously from 1,320 feet before the crossing until the crossing is reached. But the office may order that the ringing of the bell as required by this subsection shall be omitted at any crossing.

192.29(5) (5) Railroad crossing and yield signs.

192.29(5)(a) (a) Wherever its track crosses a public highway or street, every railroad corporation shall maintain on each side of the track a highway-rail-grade crossing sign, commonly known as a crossbuck sign, that conforms with the manual of uniform traffic control devices adopted by the department under s. 84.02 (4) (e).

192.29(5)(b) (b) No later than July 1, 2007, at every railroad crossing at which a railroad corporation is required to maintain a sign described in par. (a) and that is not controlled by a gate, automatic signal, or official stop sign, the railroad corporation shall install and maintain, below the sign described in par. (a), a yield sign that conforms with the manual of uniform traffic control devices adopted by the department under s. 84.02 (4) (e).

192.29(6) (6) Contact information at private crossings. A railroad company shall make a notice containing a telephone number at which a person may contact the company available to private landowners at each private traveled grade crossing at the request of the private landowner. The notice shall be large enough to be visible from the crossing.

192.29 History History: 1977 c. 29 ss. 1654 (8) (b), (9) (e), 1656 (43); 1977 c. 116; 1981 c. 347 s. 80 (1); 1993 a. 16, 123; 1997 a. 254; 2005 a. 95, 179; 2013 a. 219.

192.292 192.292 Trains obstructing highways. It shall be unlawful to stop any railroad train, locomotive or car upon or across any highway or street crossing, outside of cities, or leave the same standing upon such crossing longer than 10 minutes, except in cases of accident; and any railroad company that shall violate this section shall be liable to a fine of not more than $500 or any officer of such company responsible for the violation shall be liable to imprisonment of not more than 15 days.

192.292 History History: 2005 a. 179.

192.295 192.295 Willful neglect of railroad employees. Any officer, agent, conductor, engineer or employee of any railroad company operating within this state who willfully neglects or omits to ring or cause to be rung the bell on the engine of any train of cars or on an engine alone, as required by s. 192.29 (3) and (4), shall forfeit $100.

192.295 History History: 1983 a. 501; 2005 a. 179.

192.31 192.31 Telltales over railroads.

192.31(1) (1) 

192.31(1)(a) (a) Telltales shall not be required except to the extent required under federal law and except as provided in par. (b).

192.31(1)(b) (b) If the office finds that the absence of a telltale would create an unreasonable risk of harm to the public or a railroad employee on a railroad not under the jurisdiction of the federal railroad administration, the office may enter an order requiring the installation of a telltale. A telltale shall be ordered by the office according to the hearing procedure provided under sub. (4).

192.31(2) (2) The office may determine the materials for and the construction and placing of such telltales.

192.31(3) (3) After December 31, 1993, no overhead structure shall be constructed or reconstructed, not including ordinary repairs necessary for maintenance, which shall have a vertical clearance of less than 23 feet above the top of rail, except as provided in sub. (4).

192.31(4) (4) Upon finding that any such structure will not imperil life or limb, and that the public interest requires or permits such structure to be constructed or reconstructed otherwise than as permitted by sub. (3), the office may exempt such structure from such provision. Such findings shall be made only upon written application, setting forth fully the grounds therefor and shall be made only after public hearing held upon notice to all interested parties except that, if no objection is filed with the office within 20 days of the notice, the office may require the installation of a telltale without hearing. The findings and order requiring the installation of a telltale shall be in writing and contain complete provisions and requirements as to the vertical clearance to be maintained in such construction or reconstruction. Such structure shall be constructed or reconstructed only in compliance with such order.

192.31(5) (5) Prior to July 1, in each year every corporation operating a railroad within the state shall file with the office a verified statement showing the location of every such bridge or other structure over any of its tracks at a height of less than 23 feet above the top of rail, together with a statement showing whether or not the provisions of this section have been fully complied with.

192.31(6) (6) An employee of a railroad corporation who is injured by or because of the existence of any bridge, or other structure over, above or across any of the tracks of said railroad at a height less than that provided in this section, which has not been protected by telltales, shall not be considered to have assumed the risk of such injury, although the employee continues in the employ of such corporation after the existence of such unguarded structure has been brought to the employee’s knowledge.