posted
I would have to say the dead man pedal on the locomotive. You guys may not be familar with this devise but it has saved a lot of wrecks and derailments. The dead man pedal to the best of my knowledge was installed in the loco back in the 70's. It's a pedal in the floor under the Engineer's seat,positioned just about where your gas pedal is on your car. When operating the loco you had to press down on the pedal at all times. If you let your foot off the pedal it would automaticlly put the train into emergency stop with brake application. This was supposedly installed in case the Engineer had a heart attack and let the pressure off the pedal the train would stop. To be perfectly honest about it I think it was installed to keep the Engineer from going to sleep. Of course a good railroader can always find a way around these little quirks. I say that because it really is a pain in the butt. You can't even go to the restroom without stopping the train. So we would take a flag stick and wedge it into the pedal to hold it down and not worry about it for the rest of the trip. Now days we have whats called an alerter on the control panel. It's a little red button which activates about every 5 minutes and has to be pushed when you see a red light flashing on the dash. It will flash for about 5 seconds and if you do not respond by pushing the button to let the computer know you are still alive it will start making the most God awful whistle you have ever heard. It will start with short whistles and then get faster and louder until you press the red button. It works the same way as if you do not respond to it the train will go into automatic brake application and stop. You would have to be dead not to hear it. This is one devise we have not been able to bypass yet. It will keep you awake and aware of whats going on around you while at the controls.
Posts: 100 | From: Sacramento,CA | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Acualy Sheriff, I am familar with this Device, When I was little, on the way to San Diago the Engeener was letting kids come to the Cab-Control Car and Blow the Horn, When it was My turn, this buzzing noise kept going off, so I asked him what it was, and he said that if he dosnt push the button by the time it stops, the Train will stop itself. That was when Amtrak Was still using there Amfleets & F40s
------------------ JONATHON D. ORTIZ
Posts: 989 | From: DIAMOND BAR CA. U.S. | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
I'd have to say the centralized signaling systems helped the overall safety and efficiency of the railroads quite a bit. If you had said "trains", instead of "railroads", I would vote for the air brake system.
Posts: 10 | From: So. Cal | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
Jonathon; Good for you for remembering. We still let the kids come into the cab car when possible for a quick look. It's educational and exciting. I have even had the fathers tell me their child loves trains and wants to see inside the cab car so I let them even though the child is only about 18 months old. I know it's really the dad who wants to see but that's OK too.
Now the air brake system was definately one of the best inventions. I would have to put it high on the list. When I think about what is the best invention I think about the safty issue involved.
[This message has been edited by Sheriff (edited 01-22-2004).]
posted
Steel. Before steel rails they were cast iron, and didn't hold up.
Posts: 2649 | From: California's Monterey Peninsula | Registered: Dec 2000
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