(a) The purpose of this part is to ensure that only qualified persons operate a locomotive or train.
(b) This part prescribes minimum Federal safety standards for the eligibility, training, testing, certification and monitoring of all locomotive engineers to whom it applies. This part does not restrict a railroad from adopting and enforcing additional or more stringent requirements not inconsistent with this part.
(c) The qualifications for locomotive engineers prescribed in this part are pertinent to any person who operates a locomotive, unless that person is specifically excluded by a provision of this part, regardless of the fact that a person may have a job classification title other than that of locomotive engineer. [56 FR 28254, June 19, 1991, as amended at 64 FR 60988, Nov. 8, 1999]