49 U.S.C. § 20301

Definition and nonapplication

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(a)Definition.—In this chapter, “vehicle” means a car, locomotive, tender, or similar vehicle.(b)Nonapplication.—This chapter does not apply to the following:(1) a train of 4-wheel coal cars.(2) a train of 8-wheel standard logging cars if the height of each car from the top of the rail to the center of the coupling is not more than 25 inches.(3) a locomotive used in hauling a train referred to in clause (2) of this subsection when the locomotive and cars of the train are used only to transport logs.(4) a car, locomotive, or train used on a street railway.(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 881; Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(52), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3393.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 103–272

Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

20301(a)

45:8 (“trains, locomotives, tenders, cars, and similar vehicles”).

45:9 (3d sentence).

20301(b)

45:6 (1st sentence proviso).

Mar. 2, 1893, ch. 196, § 6 (1st sentence proviso), 27 Stat. 532; restated Apr. 1, 1896, ch. 87, 29 Stat. 85.

45:8 (words after 16th comma).

Mar. 2, 1903, ch. 976, § 1 (words after 23d comma), 32 Stat. 943.

Subsection (a) is added to avoid repeating the substance of the definition throughout this chapter.

In subsection (b), the words before clause (1) are substituted for “Provided, That nothing in sections 1 to 7 of this title shall apply to” in 45:6 because 45:9, 11, and 16 provide that 45:9 and 11–16 apply to the same vehicles and trains as 45:1–7 apply to. In clause (1), the word “coal” is added for clarity because of the decision of the Supreme Court in Baltimore & Ohio Railway Co. v. Jackson, 353 U.S. 325, 333 (1957) and the legislative history of 45:6 (proviso). See 24 Cong. Rec. 1477 (1893). The text of 45:8 (words after last comma) is omitted as unnecessary because of the definition of “railroad” in section 20102 of the revised title.

Pub. L. 104–287

This amends 49:20301(b) to clarify the restatement of 45:8 by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 (Public Law 103–272, 108 Stat. 881).

Editorial NotesAmendments

1996—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 104–287 added par. (4).

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–287 effective July 5, 1994, see section 8(1) of Pub. L. 104–287, set out as a note under section 5303 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 118 cases (31 in the last 5 years), 1995–2025 · leading case: In Re Asbestos Prods. Liab. Litig. (No. VI), 822 F.3d 125 (3rd Cir. 2016).
In Re Asbestos Prods. Liab. Litig. (No. VI), 822 F.3d 125 (3rd Cir. 2016). “, and the Safety, Appliance Act, 49 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq. The District Court granted the companies’ motion, holding that Hassell’s claims were preempted by the Locomotive Inspection Act.”
Connie Strickland v. Norfolk S. Ry. Co., 692 F.3d 1151 (11th Cir. 2012). “, 2 and the *1154 Federal Safety Appliance Act (“FSAA”), 49 U.S.C. § 20301 et seg. 3 Subsequently, Norfolk Southern moved for summary judgment, contending that, in the absence of an identification of the rail car and the alleged faulty handbrake, there was insufficient evidence…”
Delaware & Hudson Ry. Co. v. Knoedler Mfrs., Inc., 781 F.3d 656 (3rd Cir. 2015). · cites it 2× “, the Supreme Court stated that a railroad employee can enforce a violation of the Safety Appliance Acts (“SAAs”), 49 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq., through the FELA but that a “nonemployee must look for his remedy to a common law action in tort, which is to say that he must sue in a…”
Anderson v. BNSF Ry., 2015 MT 240 (Mont. 2015). · cites it 2× “The same work assignment would be non-negligent if given to an employee without the physical condition at issue. It is the employer’s prior knowledge of the employee’s physical 1 As with any other claim under the FELA, liability in cumulative trauma injury claims may also be…”
Magna Trust Co. v. Illinois Cent. R.R., 728 N.E.2d 797 (Ill. App. Ct. 2000). · cites it 2× “(Illinois Central), alleging a violation of the Safety Appliance Act ( 49 U.S.C. § 20301 et. seq. (1994)). Rusty Jones, an employee of Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), suffered fatal injuries when he was crushed between two rail cars while attempting to adjust a coupler on one of…”
In Re West Virginia Asbestos Litig., 592 S.E.2d 818 (W. Va. 2003). · cites it 2× “Are state tort law claims against manufacturers of parts or components of trains, locomotives, railcars, and similar vehicles used on any railroad, which is engaged in interstate or foreign commerce, preempted by federal law under the Safety Appliance Act, 49 U.S.C. § 20301 et…”
Hardlannert v. Illinois Cent. R.R., 928 N.E.2d 172 (Ill. App. Ct. 2010). · cites it 4× “§§51 through 60 (2000)) and the Federal Safety Appliance Act (FSAA) ( 49 U.S.C. §20301 et seq. (2000)) after he sustained a back injury while working on defendant Illinois Central Railroad Company’s switching tracks.”
Dennis Deans v. Csx Transp., Inc., 152 F.3d 326 (4th Cir. 1998). “(“CSX”), appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment against him on his claims under the Federal Safety Appliances Act (“FSAA”), 49 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq., and the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (“FELA”), 45 U.”
Scheiding v. Gen. Motors Corp., 993 P.2d 996 (Cal. 2000). · cites it 2× “) We agree with the Court of Appeal that the foregoing principles govern the viability of plaintiffs' state law causes of action, which are based upon their claim defendant manufactured a defective product by utilizing asbestos in the design of its locomotives.”
Ronald Ward v. Soo Line R.R. Co., 901 F.3d 868 (7th Cir. 2018). “49 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq. In Tipton v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Co.”
Little v. Budd Co., 955 F.3d 816 (10th Cir. 2020). “Alternatively, Budd asserts Little’s tort claims are preempted by the Safety Appliance Act (“SAA”), 49 U.S.C. §§ 20301 to 20306. This assertion, however, is foreclosed by the Supreme Court’s decision in Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co.”
BNSF Ry. Co. v. Seats, Inc., 900 F.3d 545 (8th Cir. 2018). “See 49 U.S.C. § 20301 - 06 . The SAAs and the LIA are similar.”
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