Thread: Any railroaders out there?

Sorry shooter, going slightly sideways here, i am currently working on RIO Tinto's autohaul project, installing the equipment on the locomotives, there should be a proper run this week so i hear.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Sorry shooter, going slightly sideways here, i am currently working on RIO Tinto's autohaul project, installing the equipment on the locomotives, there should be a proper run this week so i hear.

You have me curious, are you talking about the new GPS equipment designed to operate a locomotive without crews? I've seen it on some newer BNSF locomotives. They told us it was a "Trip Optimizer", to help a engineer run a train in territories they may not know so well. Good sales pitch, but we all know the big railroads want to get rid of crews alltogether & if I understand correctly BNSF may have gotten the unions to agree on 1 man trains in certain areas. That's bad news for the John-Q Public & IMO dangerous.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

You have me curious, are you talking about the new GPS equipment designed to operate a locomotive without crews? I've seen it on some newer BNSF locomotives. They told us it was a "Trip Optimizer", to help a engineer run a train in territories they may not know so well. Good sales pitch, but we all know the big railroads want to get rid of crews alltogether & if I understand correctly BNSF may have gotten the unions to agree on 1 man trains in certain areas. That's bad news for the John-Q Public & IMO dangerous.

There have been a few stages to the job, first we improved the braking for the entire consist, dropping stopping distance for a 2.5km train from about 3km to around 700m, but essentially yes we are beyond the driver assist stagewhich is your one man crew scenario, i probably shouldnt say too much, i dont want to get in trouble. Our rail runs through almost empty desert, the population of northern WA is pretty slim. There are lots of safety features both onboard and on track, and the docklands light rail has been driverless for years.

Iam an engineer of my own railroad...O Guage ...the Maine Central...even since the computer chip hit the model rail road.....the possibilities are endless what these Loco's can do....heck ...they even have cruise control !!!!