And I have the feeling that the engineer will have quite a bit of time to think about what he did or didn't do- or would CSX give him a "vacation" after this incident? Since all ended well, there's been a news parody about CSX's experimenting with crewless trains circulating over in Railspot. Seems the experiment was going well until some knucklehead got on board & stopped the train. CSX must be trying to reduce costs again... (it's only a joke...it's only a joke )
Maybe we should look closer at the photos.... it may have been a remote control unit like at the mines, etc. (with the colored lites on the cab)??? Yes, I am sure that is what we'd like to think... it was really under control the whole time Just kidding too! I am really glad that the situation ended as well as it did! Harold
Maybe they should have some kind of backup unit, like a onboard computer that knows when the engineers there or not. If the engineer isn't there then the backup system should at least give a warning like blasting the horn to let the engineer know that he made an error. Sounding theory and idea!
You want to Trust a Computer to control a locomotive all by itself??? Just remember - a computer is programmed by a Human - and the programmer went home at 5:00 not worrying about the Loco!!!
No no no, your not getting it are you? When the engineers NOT there it would give a blast from the horns and if he doesnt come to do anything it would gradually take control and stop the train.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by UnionPacificBigBoy: No no no, your not getting it are you?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I'm getting it. Please adjust your tone. The meaning is clear and I think that concept has been in use for many years. Charlie
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by UnionPacificBigBoy: No no no, your not getting it are you? When the engineers NOT there it would give a blast from the horns and if he doesnt come to do anything it would gradually take control and stop the train.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I believe CN uses this sytem already on some locomotives. There is a beeping sound in the cab if the engineer hasn't changed the throttle, blown the horn, applied the brake, lossend the brake ect.. for 30-45 second. If another 15 seconds passes a louder beeping goes off, another 15 seconds and there is beeping and the train whistle, another 15 seconds and the train goes to emergency. I herad this at a train group I attend on Friday nights. I am not sure if this was a test programme or if was an actually used programme in its new/old, or all the locomtotives on the CN line. I know the deadman has been replaced on almost all CN power. Now that I ahve mumbled on about CN you are probably saying what does this have to do with CSX? Well, I raise the question, what do they use, the deadman still? I thought that was abbolished?? Happy Railroading! Dane N.
A similar system has been used in australia for years it is called vigilance control. The second person or driver on the locomotive must acknowledge a warning every 30 seconds otherwise after a predetermined time the emergency brakes are applied
A friend once rode in the lead F9 on the "Canadian" through the rockies several years ago, and I am sure he mentioned having to press a button every half minute, or something, as he was in the second man's seat!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan: he mentioned having to press a button every half minute<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Hmmm, that could explain that cache clearing problem we are having. Maybe I'm supposed to press a button every 30 seconds. Charlie
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by E-8: Hmmm, that could explain that cache clearing problem we are having. Maybe I'm supposed to press a button every 30 seconds. Charlie<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Oh geez, does that mean we have been "unmanned" and didn't know it? Harold
Lookout! Engineer Charlie stepped out for a minute, now the TRAINBoard is a RUNNAWAY, no body is at the button. "PUSH THE BUTTON MAX!" (Quote Professor Fate in The Great Race")
Trains.com Newswire has posted a good story at http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/076ddrhw.asp It's well written, thorough, and seems to be the official CSX position. Hank P.S. Charlie, you shouldn't leave TB unattended and in Run-8 ..... you know computers are unreliable
Hank, one item they seemed to over-look, is that the original engineer was already rolling and spotted an improperly set switch, which was only partially thrown. He determined that he would be unable to stop before his train ran onto this switch, so he quickly set the train brakes, engine brakes and dynamics, then ran down to try and out-run the engine to set the switch to prevent a derail. He admitted he had heard what he thought was the fans start up on the dynamic brake system, but as he threw the switch, he realized to his horror that what he had heart was in fact, the engine reving up, and he raced to get back on. The engine was by then going too fast, and there was no way to get on a following car to make his way to the engine. In older days when there were roof walks and ladders up to the top, he could have grabbed on to about any car, climbed up and made his way back up to the engine and stopped the train. He tried to save his train from derailing. Whoever only partially set that switch, is really the one to blame, not the engineer! Everyone in the yard is supportive of this engineer, except the management, and the media only knows what it is told. The question is, would it have been better for him to just not try at all, and drop his engine on the ground right there in the yards?
Rumoured CSX press release. May 15, 2001 Due to the escalation of fuel prices and the dwindling economy, CSX Transportation, in its continuing efforts to reduce the work force and conserve money, announced today that it would run trains without crews. The first trial run was a 70 mile run from Ohio to Kentucky. Although the media was alerted to a so-called "runaway train," an unidentified spokesman for CSX said all was going well until some knuckle-headed "hero" jumped onto the train and applied the brakes. CSX estimates that over all savings from running trains with no crews would spur the economy and cause their stock to skyrocket. "We just wanted to be the first to run trains without crews, we heard the NS motto was to be employee free in 2003 so we decided we better get on the band wagon." Gary. Don't shoot the messenger! (all in jest )
Gary, Thats almost as funny as the police officer who tried to shoot out the fuel tank of the locomotive.If the locomotive had a full tank of fuel approx 4000 gallons. How long would it have taken to run out of fuel thats assuming he hit the bottom of the tank. My guess the train would have run across USa before it ran out of fuel hehehehe
It would have gone a fair way on a full tank. But with him holing the tank, the whole train would have erupted in a massive ball of flame, just like all Hollywood vehicles! hehe Well, the occifer could have tried shooting out the tyres. Gary. [ 19 May 2001: Message edited by: Gats ]
The CSXT 8888 (ex CR) did have an alerter (deadman feature) but having the independent brake on over-rides this feature. My (as well as many others) question is with the eng in 8 notch & the brakes on, why didn't the engr "hear" what was going on as soon as he had gotten off the eng the noise of the eng reving up should have been quite noticeable and the train shouldn't have statred to roll that fast that quick that he couldn't have gotten back on board. By the way, I never did hear or read where the conductor was when all this happened. This is a good reason why engrs should not have to be forced by company rules to get off & throw switches-that's the job of the train crew. Stanley Yard (ex NYC-PC-CR) has A LOT of switches, it's amazing how the train left without derailing!!
