§ 51-a. Clearances. Clearance distance between adjacent tracks and\nbetween tracks and adjacent structures or obstructions and between the\ntop of the rail and any overhead wire, bridge, viaduct or obstruction.\nAll tracks hereafter constructed or reconstructed by every railroad in\nthis state shall be laid and maintained so as to provide the following\nminimum distance between adjacent tracks and between tracks and adjacent\nor overhead structures or obstructions:\n 1. Twenty-two feet between the top of the rail and any overhead wire,\nbridge, viaduct or other obstruction when operating conditions require\nmen to ride or work on the top of cars, except as hereinafter provided.\nStructures constructed, or under construction, prior to the effective\ndate hereof, including the extension of said structures by the erection\nof abutting buildings, may be maintained at existing clearances and\nadditional tracks may be constructed and existing tracks reconstructed\nthereunder at the same clearance.\n Overhead clearance above the top of the rail of such tracks located at\nthe entrance and inside of buildings may be reduced to eighteen feet,\nprovided that, when an overhead clearance of less than twenty-two feet\nexists on tracks inside such buildings, movements of railway equipment\nshall be brought to a stop before entering such building. In switching\nmovements requiring a number of entries, stop shall be required only\nupon initial entry.\n Clearances provided in this section shall not apply to electric wires\nand equipment required over present and future tracks for operation of\ntrains by electric energy, provided the railroad concerned promulgates\nand enforces rules that prohibit any employee from being on top of cars\nwhile being operated under lower clearances than provided for in this\nsection.\n Clearances provided in this section shall not apply to engine houses,\nengine house facilities or tipples. These clearances shall not apply to\nfacilities used for servicing cars, nor for loading or unloading of bulk\ncommodities, where such compliance is not reasonably practicable.\n 2. Side clearances from the center line of tangent railroad tracks,\nused or proposed to be used for transporting freight cars, except as\nhereinafter provided, shall be as provided herein. However, structures,\nincluding platforms and tracks, constructed, or under construction,\nprior to the effective date hereof including the extension of said\nstructures by the erection of abutting buildings, may be maintained and\nextended at existing clearances.\n All structures and obstructions above the top of the rail except those\nhereinafter specifically mentioned are to have a side clearance of not\nless than eight feet six inches as measured from the center line of the\ntrack.\n Platforms, except platforms adjacent to the main or passing tracks,\nfour feet or less above the top of the rail may have lesser clearances\nthan eight feet six inches from the center line of the track on one side\nof such tracks only and where a full clearance of eight feet six inches\nis maintained on the opposite side of the track or track centers to\nadjacent track are not less than fourteen feet.\n Platforms four feet six inches or less above the top of the rail when\nused principally for loading or unloading refrigerator cars may be\nconstructed eight feet from the center line of the track.\n Platforms previously constructed at less than clearances herein\nprescribed may be extended at such lesser clearances unless such\nextension is in connection with the reconstruction of an original\nplatform.\n Low passenger platforms not over eight inches above the top of the\nrail may be five feet one inch from the center line of track. High\npassenger platforms four feet or less above the top of a rail may be\nfive feet seven inches from the center line of the track.\n Side clearances, other than for platforms, on sides only, at entrances\nto and inside of buildings shall be
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