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General Laws

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Section 1Definitions
Section 2Boston; tribunal acting in place of county commissioners
Section 3Application
Section 4Corporation chartered concurrently with another state
Section 5Corporation or trustees operating railroad of another
Section 6Purchase of railroad by commonwealth
Section 7Taking by eminent domain
Section 8Map and engineer’s report to accompany petition for charter
Section 9Depositary for plans and profiles
Section 10Notice of route
Section 11Limits specified in charter
Section 12Fixing of route
Section 13Formation
Section 14Contents of agreement of association
Section 15Associates’ authority
Section 16Publication of agreement of association
Section 17Application for certificate of public convenience and necessity
Section 18Map; engineer’s report
Section 19Submission of map and report to local officials
Section 20Fixing of route by local officials; certificate fee
Section 21Fixing of route by department upon failure to agree
Section 22Spurs, branches and connecting and terminal tracks
Section 23Certificate of facts of subscription
Section 24Certificate of compliance; filing; certificate of incorporation
Section 25Change in amount of capital stock; change of gauge
Section 26Limit upon time to acquire certificate of incorporation
Section 27Limit upon time to construct railroad
Section 28Narrow gauge railroads; paid-up capital stock
Section 29First meeting of incorporators; notice; waiver of notice
Section 30Adoption of by-laws; election of directors
Section 31Managing officers
Section 32Selection of officers; treasurer’s bond; clerk’s qualifications and duties; terms of office; vacancies
Section 33Stockholders’ meeting
Section 34Special meetings
Section 35Voting by corporation upon its own stock
Section 36Voting rights of stockholders
Section 37Meetings of directors
Section 38Certificate
Section 39Assessment; failure to pay assessment
Section 40Collection of assessment
Section 41Increase of capital stock; purposes
Section 42Corporation consolidated with one in another state; unauthorized capital stock increase
Section 43Issue of preferred stock
Section 44Designation of preferred stock; filing of record of proceedings; contents of certificate
Section 45Voting power of preferred stock; amount of stock
Section 46Offer of preferred stock to common shareholders
Section 47Issue of shares, bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness
Section 48Approval by department of issue
Section 49Exchange for registered bonds
Section 50Validity
Section 51Default on mortgage; contract to allow those in possession to operate
Section 52Trustees in possession of railroad; annual meeting
Section 53Trustees in possession of railroad; election and confirmation of trustees
Section 54Trustees in possession of railroad; jurisdiction of supreme judicial court
Section 55Purchaser under foreclosure
Section 56Necessity of payment of par for shares; limit upon capital stock
Section 57Liability for issuing void stock
Section 58Use of each other’s railroad
Section 59Service provided to other railroad; compensation
Section 60Rates for services for connecting company
Section 61Foreign railroads’ privilege as connecting road
Section 62Lease by one connecting railroad to the other
Section 63Term of lease
Section 64Taking securities of other corporations
Section 65Telegraph company stock
Section 65AHolding stock in railroad car and equipment companies
Section 65BReal estate, warehouse, industrial facility, and industrial development companies stock
Section 66Guaranty of steamship company bonds
Section 67Associate in formation of grain elevator corporation
Section 68Acquisition, retention, sale or guarantee of other’s bonds or notes
Section 69Powers of railroad corporations; aid in construction of branch or connecting railroads
Section 70Terminal, express and subsidiary companies; interest of railroads in stock and securities
Section 70ASteamship companies, ferries, ferry boats, docks, motor vehicles and aircraft
Section 71Prohibition after 1907
Section 72Application for consolidation; notice; hearing; determination
Section 73Rates and facilities of consolidated railroads
Section 74Violations; penalties
Section 75Determination of method of crossing highways
Section 76Estimate of cost; subscription for capital stock; certificate of compliance
Section 77Consent to locate within three miles of state house
Section 78Authorized purchases
Section 79Filing of descriptions with department
Section 80Proceedings to fix location of land
Section 81Change of location
Section 82Taking of land
Section 83Taking of land for purposes other than a railroad
Section 84Lands or rights of other railroads
Section 85Purposes for change
Section 86Change of direction
Section 87Limitation upon tax exemption
Section 88Prescriptive rights of adjoining landholders
Section 89Description of locations of railroads; rules and regulations
Section 90Fencing of railroad property
Section 91Eminent domain; order securing landowners
Section 92Enforcement of order securing landowners
Section 93Fences and gates along length of railroad
Section 93AFences along railroad tracks in cities and towns
Section 94Recovery by railroad from person required to fence
Section 95Grade separation of railroad tracks by agreement
Section 96Consent for one railroad to cross another or to cross navigable water
Section 97Highway crossings; obstructions; grade separations
Section 98Over-passes and under-passes; height
Section 99Material used to surface bridges and approaches
Section 100Alteration of grade of highway; decree of county commissioners; security
Section 101Alteration of course of highway; decree of county commissioners; security; eminent domain
Section 102Level grade crossing of highway
Section 103Level grade crossing; rails protected to enable easy passage
Section 104Proceedings to lay out public way across railroad
Section 104ABuilding, equipment or machinery moving; duty of railroad; reimbursement of costs
Section 105Alteration of course of canal
Section 106Remedy of obstruction or for failure to repair
Section 107Construction and repair of bridges, approaches and abutments
Section 108Jurisdiction of county commissioners
Section 109Separation of private land; order of commissioners relative to crossing
Section 110Denial of access to private land; order for crossing by department
Section 111Decisions of commissioners; appeal
Section 112Proceedings perfecting appeal
Section 113Appeal; hearing; department’s powers
Section 114Rights of way across tracks by prescription
Section 115Construction; additional capital stock; certificate of necessity and convenience; fee
Section 116Switch connections with private interests
Section 117Order for switch connection by department
Section 118Certification by department
Section 119Filing of map and profile, tables of grade and curvature and statement of characteristics
Section 120Draw tender
Section 121Position of bridge when not in use
Section 122Passage of vessels
Section 123Signals indicating position of bridge
Section 124Gates
Section 125Precautions taken by engineer
Section 126Violations; penalty
Section 127Penalties
Section 127ADrawbridges; department; exemption of railroad from compliance with law
Section 128Abandonment of passenger station
Section 128ADiscontinuance of passenger service; hearing; notice; decision of department
Section 129Relocation of passenger stations and freight depots
Section 130Signs indicating way stations
Section 131Compensation for use of station, railroad or grounds of one company by another
Section 131AApplication of business corporation to acquire, own and operate terminal facilities; notice; hearing; approval
Section 132Safety switches
Section 133Protection of employees; blocking of frogs, switches and guard rails
Section 133ASwitch stands, lighting
Section 134Bridge guards
Section 134ADistance between sets of tracks, structures or obstructions; exemptions
Section 135Stopping of trains at grade crossings
Section 136Grade crossings; rules and regulations
Section 137Grade crossings; interlocking signals
Section 138Warning to public
Section 138AWarning devices at crossings
Section 139Regulation by department of use of warning devices
Section 140Signs protecting public ways
Section 141Signs protecting a traveled place
Section 142Signs erected by municipalities
Section 143Signs erected by municipality; duty to supply
Section 144Release of railroad or municipality from duty to provide signs
Section 145Violations; penalties
Section 146Damaging warning signs; penalty
Section 147Gates or flashing lights at crossing of railroad and public way
Section 147AReflectorizing of signs, etc., at crossings
Section 148Failure to erect signs or install gates or lights; penalty
Section 149Signals at crossing of railroad above highway level
Section 150Obstruction of view by standing wood; petition for removal; payment for damages
Section 151Obstruction of public way by railroad; penalty
Section 152Reasonable use of crossing; regulation by department
Section 153Type of power used to operate
Section 154Brakes and brakemen
Section 155Control of brakes by engineer; inspection
Section 156Safety couplers on freight cars
Section 157Use of car not equipped with automatic couplers
Section 158Grab irons
Section 159Standard height of draw bars for freight cars
Section 160Violations; penalty
Section 161Trains composed of four-wheel cars; application
Section 162Extension of time for equipment
Section 163Tools and devices carried on trains
Section 163ATrack motor cars; windshield with cleaning device and canopy
Section 163BPassenger cars; safety windows and doors
Section 164Repealed, 1930, 211, Sec. 2
Section 165Passenger, mail or baggage car; heating devices
Section 166Passenger cars; illuminating oil or fluid
Section 167Platform gates
Section 168Testing of locomotive boilers, rolling stock or other equipment
Section 169Vacuum brakes; mufflers
Section 170Safety valves; mufflers
Section 171Failure to equip with mufflers; penalty
Section 172Reasonable passenger accommodations
Section 172ADrinking water and sanitary toilet facilities on locomotives or cabooses
Section 173Women or children in smoking cars
Section 174Drinking water in railroad cars
Section 175Failure to provide drinking water; penalty
Section 176Other necessary appliances
Section 176ATrack motor cars; lights
Section 177Caps and badges
Section 178Eye examinations
Section 179Engineer; experience
Section 180Conductor; experience
Section 181Violations of experience requirements for engineers and conductors
Section 182Experience of engineer and conductor; exceptions
Section 183Penalty for violation of experience requirements for engineers and conductors
Section 184Rest days
Section 185Change in number of train crew; regulation by department
Section 185ARepealed, 1955, 669, Sec. 3
Section 186Determination by railroad; revision
Section 187Reduction of rates
Section 188Extra charges for ticket purchased at place other than ticket office
Section 189Mileage tickets; detaching coupons
Section 190Commutation tickets
Section 191Season tickets; extension of term
Section 192Season tickets; reimbursement for additional fares
Section 193Sale of season tickets to express messengers; release of liability for personal injury
Section 194Baggage checks
Section 195Baggage stored over week end
Section 196Transportation of bicycles
Section 197Cheap morning and evening trains
Section 198Workingmen’s trains
Section 198AUnauthorized sale at less than full fare
Section 198BUnauthorized sale at other than scheduled rate
Section 199Free passes or reduced rates for public officials
Section 200Free passes to former employees injured in service of railroad
Section 201Required upon request
Section 202Determination of compensation
Section 203Reopening of proceedings determining compensation
Section 204Receipts
Section 205Equal facilities; passengers and property
Section 206Application of Sec. 205
Section 207Prompt forwarding
Section 208Charges for transportation of freight
Section 209Violations; penalties
Section 210Freight differential to port of Boston
Section 211Discrimination in rates
Section 212Complete service; equal tariffs
Section 213Tariff
Section 214Violations; penalty
Section 215Approval of shareholders; authorization by department
Section 216Certificate of authorization; filing; notice
Section 217Rights and liabilities under new name
Section 218Standing, walking or riding vehicle on railroad property
Section 219Loitering in station
Section 220Riding upon train other than as fare-paying passenger or employee
Section 221Fees for enforcement of Sec. 220
Section 222Riding or driving animals on railroad
Section 223Liability for allowing animal on railroad
Section 224Liability for allowing animal on railroad
Section 225Malicious injury to railroad; treble damages
Section 226Obstruction of passing of train
Section 227Wilfully stopping train
Section 228Tampering with tools or appliances
Section 229Defects in highway; liability of city or town; recovery from railroad
Section 230Repealed, 1974, 252
Section 231Gross negligence of person in control of train; penalty
Section 232Neglect of railroad to give signals at crossing; damages; contributory, gross or wilful negligence
Section 233Non-liability of railroad for acts of expressmen
Section 234Liability; insurance of railroad and owner
Section 235Spark arresters
Section 235AClearing of inflammable material along right of way
Section 236Clearing of adjoining land; notice of intent to enter
Section 237Warning of fire given by train crew
Section 238Extinguishing fire
Section 239Instruction of employees
Section 240Entry upon public park or reservation
Section 241Expense of extinguishing fire; liability of railroad
Section 241ADerailments; removal of wreckage and debris
Section 242Content; inspection; violations
Section 243Quarterly statement
Section 244Lessee to make lessor’s returns
Section 245Construction; limitations
Section 246Supervisory powers of department
Section 247Formation; powers
Section 248Agreement of association
Section 249Certificate of compliance
Section 250Change in amount of capital stock
Section 251Application
Section 252Enforcement