Posted on 12/02/2013 2:36:45 PM PST by jazusamo
Bump.
How this [speed detecting tech] isn’t incorporated into these trains makes no sense.
The union probably doesn’t want the trains to be smarter than its members...
Or even build it into the tracks? That way any train going too fast through a curve to stay on the rails can be signaled.
and you know that notion just crossed my mind ...
my favorite Dead song and probably one of my top 3 all time
What does a deadhead say when the pot runs out?
:wq
They announced today that a whistle did indeed go off in the booth to notify the engineer that the train was moving too fast.
It woke him, or whatever, (he says he was zoned out) and he quickly put the train in idle and hit the brakes hard. Unfortunately, it was way too late; it was only 5 seconds before crash. Apparently, it takes a half mile to slow from cruising speed to 30 mph at that turn.
On the one hand, we are all human and can doze off, driving the train or not. (Assuming the guy not texting or on drugs, etc. All reports are that he was diligent guy. Time will tell.)
How there are no warning systems more that the late whistle to anticipate this situation in the cabin are hard to believe. Seems there are newer rules requiring systems improvements to automatically slow trains in this situation, but metro-north (and likely a lot of other operators) were pushing to delay the implementation because of cost. I guess they were supposed to be done with that improvement in 2 years.
Maybe he was on the phone with an ObamaCare navigator.
"Metro-North engineer William Rockefeller claims he was in a semi-conscious state as he entered the turn at Spuyten Duyvil. He likens this condition as akin to a trance or a hypnotic state. "
Train engineer claims he zoned out, sources say
Metro-North locomotives are equipped with ATC (automatic train control) which receives input from the cab signaling system. In typical operation, if the ATC determines an 'alert' issue, it sounds an audible (and visual) alarm (beeper, whistle, sonalert, whatever usually with a blinking red light). If the engineer does not take corrective action (and also acknowledge the alarm, usually by pushing a button that will silence it) within a certain amount of time (30 or more seconds) the ATC will apply braking (called a 'penalty brake application') to slow the train down to nominally 20 mph. (Actual operation - such as time lapse between alarm and actuation - is determined by the railroad.)
With this train traveling over 80 mph the ATC could have been 'alerting' for most of its pre-actuation time before this engineer responded, and in that time could have traveled close to 3/4 of a mile (rough math in head).
More and more this is looking like operator error (and a friend who works for a major railroad agrees). Supposedly PTC when fully implemented will drastically reduce this type of incident.
Of course, in the meantime we will hear all sorts of stupid from politicians. I'm waiting for the Obumbo team that brought us the healthkare.gov software to be assigned to developing the software for PTC... Already note that Chuckie Putzhead (thanks Al) and SonOfFormerEmperorCuomo have opened their yaps...
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