Explaining the work they do is one of the biggest challenges that locomotive mechanics face.
You are the crew chief of a group of mechanics working on a major railroad line. You decide it might be worthwhile for your railroad to consider testing out a new satellite-based system that helps prevent train collisions.
The system is brand new. You'll need to get approval from company executives, since it will be costly. You decide to draft a memo about your proposal, including some background information on the history of train braking systems.
Read the information below from Sam's Steel Rails West Mechanics Corner and the Association of American Railroads. Then draft a brief memo outlining your reasons for wanting to invest in this plan.
In the '50s and '60s, a feature called the "dead man's pedal" was being installed on diesel locomotives. This feature was comprised of a spring-mounted pedal that sat on the floor where the engineer sat. In theory, if something happened to the engineer, the spring tension on the pedal would lift up and through an air valve, which would set the automatic brakes on the train.
If everything operated properly, it would work. But too many crews couldn't be bothered with this device, and more often than not a cast iron brake shoe or a packing hook would keep the pedal in the down position all the time, nullifying this safety device.
Later on, railroads used "the alerter." The alerter worked on a system: when the brakes were released, it would set off several types of warnings every few seconds.
Today, most railroads have some kind of automatic train stop equipment of one kind or another. Most work on the principle of a magnetic pickup shoe mounted under the front or to the side of the locomotive.
It is energized when the locomotive goes over a mounted plate along or between the rails. These plates are located anywhere there is a sharp curve or dangerous situation where speed has to be reduced.
In the future, the satellite-based global positioning system (GPS) will be used to monitor train progress and send a signal to the train to stop, if something lies in the path ahead.
Train collisions are relatively rare, given the millions of miles logged by railroads annually. However, when they do occur, they can be devastating in terms of loss of life, injury and property damage.