Ind. Code ch. 8-8-1

in effect

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-1 Power driving wheel brakes; connections

Sec. 1. It shall be unlawful for any common carrier engaged in moving traffic by railroad between points within this state to use on its line any locomotive in moving such traffic not equipped with power driving wheel brakes and appliances for operating the train brake system, or to run any train in such traffic that has not seventy-five (75) per cent of the cars in such train equipped with power or train brakes, and having the brakes used and operated by the engineer of the locomotive drawing such train, and all power brake cars in such train shall be associated together and have their brakes used and operated: Provided, That this section shall not apply to the handling of trains or cars in yard service, or to a local train while engaged in performing switching service. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.1.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-2 Automatic couplers

Sec. 2. It shall be unlawful for any such common carrier to haul, or permit to be hauled, or used, on its line, any locomotive, car, tender or similar vehicle used in moving state traffic not equipped with couplers coupling automatically by impact, and which can be uncoupled without the necessity of persons going between the ends of the cars. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.2; Acts 1975, P.L.76, SEC.4.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-3 Grab-irons or handholds

Sec. 3. It shall be unlawful for any such common carrier to haul, or permit to be hauled, or used, on its line, any locomotive, car, tender, or similar vehicle used in moving of state traffic not provided with secure grab-irons or handholds in the sides or ends thereof. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.3.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-4 Draw bars; standard height

Sec. 4. It shall be unlawful for any such common carrier to use any locomotive, tender, car or similar vehicle used in the movement of state traffic, that is not provided with draw bars of standard height; to wit, standard gauge cars thirty-four and one-half (34 1/2) inches; narrow gauge cars twenty-six (26) inches; measured perpendicularly from the level of the tops of the rails to the centers of the draw bars; the maximum variation from such standard heights between draw bars of empty and loaded cars shall be three (3) inches. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.4.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-5 Application of law

Sec. 5. The provisions of sections 1, 2, and 4 of this chapter shall also apply to locomotives, cars, and trains used in passenger traffic between points within this state, in so far as the same are applicable to the vehicles used in passenger train traffic; provided, that none of the provisions of sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this chapter shall apply to any street railroad, interurban, or suburban street railroad. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.5. As amended by P.L.62-1984, SEC.104.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-6 Interurban railways; track motorcars; brakes; hand brakes

Sec. 6. It shall be unlawful for any common carrier in this state operating an interurban railway by electric power to operate or run upon any railroad in this state any motorcar used in regular interurban passenger traffic which is not equipped with an approved power air brake, in good condition, and subject to the control, and operation of the motorman in charge of such car, and of sufficient capacity to control the speed of the car. It shall also be unlawful for any common carrier, operating a steam or electric railway, and engaged in moving traffic between points in this state, to operate or run upon any railroad in this state any freight or passenger train which is not equipped, as to, at least, as to a steam railroad seventy-five percent (75%), and as to an interurban street railroad fifty percent (50%) of the cars in said train, with an approved system of hand brakes in addition to the power or train brakes required by section 1 of this chapter, which hand brakes shall be kept at all times in proper working condition and of sufficient capacity to control the speed of such train. Provided, that the hand brakes upon every passenger coach, both steam and electric, shall be so constructed that they can be operated in connection with the air or power brakes upon such coach; provided, however, that whenever such power air brakes become disabled from any cause while such car is in service on any such railroad, then, if such car is equipped with a hand brake sufficient therefor, it may complete its run; and, provided further, that this chapter shall not make it unlawful to run such disabled car to the most convenient repair shop upon the road upon which it is then being operated; provided, that this chapter shall not apply to city street railway cars, or cars engaged in suburban traffic. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.6; Acts 1911, c.169, s.1. As amended by P.L.62-1984, SEC.105.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-7 Brakes; minimum percentage of cars in trains

Sec. 7. The Indiana department of transportation may, after full hearing and for good cause shown, increase the minimum percentage of cars in any train required to be operated by power or train brakes. A failure to comply with a requirement of the department is subject to a like penalty as a failure to comply with any requirement of this chapter. The department may grant to any common carrier subject to this chapter, upon full hearing and for good cause shown, a reasonable extension of time in which to comply with this chapter. The extension or extensions may not exceed eighteen (18) months. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.7. As amended by P.L.62-1984, SEC.106; P.L.384-1987(ss), SEC.70; P.L.18-1990, SEC.80.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-8 Improperly equipped cars; refusal to accept from connecting lines

Sec. 8. Any such common carrier may refuse to receive from its connecting lines, or from any shipper, any car not equipped in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.8. As amended by P.L.62-1984, SEC.107.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-9 Inspection

Sec. 9. The Indiana department of transportation shall enforce this chapter. The department may, with the consent and approval of the governor, appoint and pay an inspector, or inspectors, to assist in so doing and in collecting the necessary information required for that purpose. The department may adopt rules, not inconsistent with this chapter, to control the conduct of its inspectors and such carriers in reference to this chapter and such inspection. All carriers subject to this chapter shall provide free transportation in Indiana for the inspectors employed by the department, to be used only while traveling on the business of the department. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.9. As amended by P.L.62-1984, SEC.108; P.L.384-1987(ss), SEC.71; P.L.18-1990, SEC.81.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-10 Violation; penalty; action to recover; exceptions

Sec. 10. Every common carrier, or the receiver thereof, using or permitting to be used or hauled on its line a locomotive, tender, car, or similar vehicle or train in violation of the provisions of this chapter is liable to a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100) for each violation, to be recovered in a suit or suits to be brought by and in the name of the Indiana department of transportation in a circuit or superior court of this state having jurisdiction over the offending carrier. This chapter does not apply to locomotives, tenders, cars, or trains exclusively used in the movement of logs when the height of the draw bars on the locomotives, tenders, and cars does not exceed twenty-five (25) inches or to locomotives, tenders, cars, similar vehicles, or trains while any are in actual use in interstate commerce. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.10. As amended by P.L.62-1984, SEC.109; P.L.384-1987(ss), SEC.72; P.L.18-1990, SEC.82.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-11 Bridges; vertical clearances

Sec. 11. (a) It is unlawful for a railroad carrier in Indiana that operates freight trains over its lines in the state to maintain over or across its line in this state an overhead bridge, viaduct, or other structure, the lowest point of which is less than twenty-one (21) feet above the level of the top of the rails in the track of the carrier, without obtaining the permission of the Indiana department of transportation so to do. (b) It is unlawful for a party, person, association, limited liability company, or municipal or private corporation to construct or maintain, across the track of a steam railroad carrier an overhead bridge, viaduct, or other structure the lowest point of which is less than twenty-one (21) feet above the level of the top of the rails in the track without obtaining the permission of the Indiana department of transportation to do so. This section does not apply to bridges or viaducts within the limits of a city or incorporated town in the state. This chapter does not modify the statutes concerning the location of wires across railroads, street railroads, interurban, or suburban railroads. No new structure or new railway bridge shall be built in which the lowest point is less than twenty-two (22) feet above the level of the top of the rails in the track of the carrier, without obtaining permission of the Indiana department of transportation so to do. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.11; Acts 1911, c.123, s.1; Acts 1949, c.107, s.1; Acts 1951, c.23, s.1. As amended by P.L.62-1984, SEC.110; P.L.384-1987(ss), SEC.73; P.L.18-1990, SEC.83; P.L.8-1993, SEC.141.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-12 Bridges and other structures; lateral clearance

Sec. 12. (a) It is unlawful for a railroad carrier in this state engaged in operating a line of standard gauge railroad, or a person or persons, association, municipal, or private corporation, to build or maintain a structure or alter or rebuild a structure or railway bridge along the line of the railroad in Indiana, in which that part of the structure or bridge nearest to the track is less than seven (7) feet from the center of the track, without first obtaining permission of the Indiana department of transportation so to do. (b) No new structure or new railway bridge shall be built in which that part of the structure or bridge nearest to the track is less than eight (8) feet from the center of the track without first obtaining permission from the Indiana department of transportation. However: (1) the clearance referred to in this section does not apply to signal fixtures governing train operations within interlocking limits; and (2) the term "structures" as used in this section does not include parallel or adjacent tracks, railroad crossings, crossovers, turn-outs, or switches. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.12; Acts 1911, c.169, s.2; Acts 1949, c.45, s.1. As amended by P.L.62-1984, SEC.111; P.L.384-1987(ss), SEC.74; P.L.18-1990, SEC.84.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-13 Violation of IC 8-8-1-12; penalty

Sec. 13. A person who violates section 12 of this chapter, after receiving sixty (60) days notice from the Indiana department of transportation that a provision of that section is being violated, is subject to a penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation to be recovered in an action to be brought by and in the name of the department on behalf of the state in any circuit or superior court having jurisdiction. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.13; Acts 1911, c.169, s.3. As amended by Acts 1978, P.L.2, SEC.826; P.L.384-1987(ss), SEC.75; P.L.18-1990, SEC.85.

Ind. Code § 8-8-1-14 Employees; death or personal injury; assumption of risk; contributory negligence

Sec. 14. Any employee of any such common carrier who may be killed or injured by any locomotive, tender, car, similar vehicle, or train in use contrary to the provisions of this chapter, or who shall be killed or injured on account of any of the structures forbidden in sections 11 and 12 of this chapter, shall not be deemed thereby to have assumed the risk thereby occasioned, although continuing in the employment of such carrier after the unlawful use of such locomotive, tender, car, similar vehicle, or train, or the maintenance of such unlawful structures named in sections 11 and 12 of this chapter had been brought to his knowledge, nor shall any such employee be held as having contributed to his injury in any case where the carrier shall have violated any of the provisions of this chapter when such violation contributed to the death or injury of any such employee. Formerly: Acts 1907, c.118, s.14. As amended by P.L.62-1984, SEC.112.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/8Fetched: 10/17/2026