FRA Notice: Union Pacific Railroad Waiver Petition for Big Boy Locomotive

Regs.gov: Federal Railroad Administration

Detected March 15th, 2026

Summary

The FRA has issued a notice regarding Union Pacific Railroad's petition for a waiver from certain cab signal regulations to operate its historic Big Boy locomotive. Public comments on the petition are due by April 3, 2026.

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What changed

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has published a notice concerning a waiver petition filed by Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) on February 10, 2026. UPRR seeks relief from specific regulations (§ 236.566) requiring cab signal systems, as the Big Boy locomotive No. 4014 cannot accommodate this equipment due to the presence of Positive Train Control (PTC) components. The petition argues that operation on Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) property will adhere to NS's existing safety procedures.

Interested parties are invited to submit written comments, data, or views to the FRA by April 3, 2026. While the FRA does not anticipate a public hearing, parties desiring one must notify the FRA in writing before the comment deadline. The FRA will consider comments received after this date if practicable. This action requires review by entities potentially affected by cab signal regulations or waiver processes, particularly those operating historic or modified rolling stock.

What to do next

Review UPRR's waiver petition for locomotive cab signal regulations.
Submit written comments, data, or views to the FRA by April 3, 2026, if participation is desired.

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This document provides the public notice that Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) petitioned FRA for relief from certain regulations
concerning cab signals.

DATES:

FRA must receive comments on the petition by April 3, 2026. FRA will consider comments received after that date to the extent
practicable.

ADDRESSES:

Comments: Comments related to this docket may be submitted by going to https://www.regulations.gov and following the online instructions for submitting comments.

Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket number. All comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov; this includes any personal information. Please see the Privacy Act heading in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document for Privacy Act information related to any submitted comments or materials.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for accessing the docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Scott Johnson, Railroad Safety Specialist, FRA Signal, Train Control, and Crossings Division, telephone: 406-210-3608, email: scott.j.johnson@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under part 211 of title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by letter dated
February 10, 2026, UPRR petitioned FRA for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations
contained at 49 CFR part 236 (Rules, Standards, and Instructions Governing the Installation, Inspection, Maintenance, and
Repair of Signal and Train Control Systems, Devices, and Appliances). FRA assigned the petition Docket Number FRA-2026-0496.

Specifically, UPRR seeks relief from the requirements of § 236.566, Locomotive of each train operating in train stop, train control or cab signal territory; equipped, to operate historic steam locomotive Big Boy No. 4014 on portions of Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) property during a one-time
tour. UPRR explains that it has discontinued cab signal systems after the implementation of positive train control (PTC),
and locomotive No. 4014 cannot accommodate cab signal equipment because PTC components now occupy the locomotive cab space
that previously housed the cab signal equipment. The petition states that the locomotive will operate per NS's operating procedures,
instructions, and rules to maintain the “safety and regulatory compliance framework already available” on NS.

A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at www.regulations.gov.

Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does
not anticipate scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since the facts do not appear to warrant a
hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for oral comment and a public hearing, they should notify FRA, in
writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request.

Communications received by April 3, 2026 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that
date will be considered if practicable.

Privacy Act

Anyone can search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of FRA's dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business,
labor union, etc.). Under 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to inform its processes. DOT posts these
comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. See also https://www.regulations.gov/privacy-notice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov.

Issued in Washington, DC.

John Karl Alexy, Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety, Chief Safety Officer. [FR Doc. 2026-04274 Filed 3-3-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-06-P