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Title 49, TransportationRelease 119-110

§20504 Inspection, Testing, and Investigation

Title 49 › SUBTITLE V — RAIL PROGRAMS › PART A — SAFETY › CHAPTER 205 — SIGNAL SYSTEMS › § 20504

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation can inspect and test railroad signal systems that are in use and decide if they are safe. The Secretary can only hire people who do not own patents on parts used with the system and who do not have money invested in a railroad or in companies that sell railroad supplies. If someone sends a finished signal system for testing, the Secretary can investigate, test, and report on it. Those tests and reports can be done at no cost to the U.S. government.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §20504

Transportation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Systems in Use.—
(1)The Secretary of Transportation may—
(A)inspect and test a signal system used by a railroad carrier; and
(B)decide whether the system is in safe operating condition.
(2)In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may employ only an individual who—
(A)has no interest in a patented article required to be used on or with a signal system; and
(B)has no financial interest in a railroad carrier or in a concern dealing in railroad supplies.
(b)Systems Submitted for Investigation and Testing.—
The Secretary may investigate, test, and report on the use of and need for a signal system, without cost to the United States Government, when the system is submitted in completed shape for investigation and testing.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 20504(a)49 App.:26(d).Feb. 4, 1887, ch. 104, 24 Stat. 379, § 25(d); added Feb. 28, 1920, ch. 91, § 441, 41 Stat. 498; restated Aug. 26, 1937, ch. 818, 50 Stat. 836; Sept. 18, 1940, ch. 722, § 14(b), 54 Stat. 919; June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 17(4), (8), 102 Stat. 635, 636. 49 App.:1655(e)(6)(A).Oct. 15, 1966, Pub. L. 89–670, § 6(e)(1)(I), (6)(A), 80 Stat. 939. 20504(b)45:36.May 27, 1908, ch. 200, § 1 (1st complete par. on p. 325), 35 Stat. 325. 49 App.:1655(e)(1)(I). In subsection (a)(1)(B), the words “safe operating condition” are substituted for “proper condition to operate and provide adequate safety” to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsection (a)(2), before clause (A), the text of 49:26(d) (2d sentence) is omitted because of 5:3101. The text of 49:26(d) (3d sentence) is omitted because of 5:ch. 33. The words “In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may employ” are substituted for “shall be used for such purpose” for clarity. In clause (A), the words “either directly or indirectly” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b), the word “experimentally” is omitted as surplus. The words “signal system” are substituted for “any appliances or systems intended to promote the safety of railway operation” because of the definition of “signal system” in section 20501 of the revised title. The text of 45:36 (last sentence) is omitted because of 49:323.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 20504

Title 49, Transportation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110