How do train engineers remember their routes through the mountans at night?

Question

How do train engineers remember their routes through the mountans at night?

Answer 1

night vision

Answer 2

FIRST OFF, enough garbage about conductors knowing anything.  Most modern conductors are nothing more than clerks.  And 75% of them can't find a seat on a locomotive without an experienced engineer showing them where to sit.  

Second, all you goofs making jokes about turning a train think you're funny.  It just shows you don't know near as much about railroads as you think you do.

Finally, for an engineer to qualify on a line of road, it takes a few trips.  To qualify as an engineer period takes about six months.  An engineer has to be very knowledgable about where signals are located, crossings are located, sidings are located.  He has to be aware of changes in grades distances between certain points and other important markers that will affect his train.  Modern trains today can be as much as 8,000 feet.  The engineer not only has to know whats ahead in a blind curve but, what's behind him that the rear of his train is still going through.  

It's not as easy as people in Yahoo try to make it out.  And a good engineer is a highly trained well experienced engineer.

Answer 3

I've been railroading for a long time. A new Engineer is given three initiation trips, as a observer before he has to pilot a train over a new route. I addition, most railroads issue "Topo Maps" that show where the inclines and descends are - corresponding with the mile markers, so that an Engineer can maintain control of his train. The first couple trips at night may be "white knuckled," but after that, most guys feel comfortable enough that they think they own the place.

Answer 4

as long as the rail is there the train just goes right to the place its suppossed to.  

it's not like they can turn right or left and get lost.

Answer 5

Well First off, trains don't make turns.  Secondly, most train conductors use the same routes, so they usually have it memorized.  But if they have to switch tracks though and don't remember they always have a piece of paper and a radio to work with.

Answer 6

For on thing, it's not like you have to make alot of turns as an engineer.  For another, in most cases, crews work the same route all the time, and ususally run it two to three times a week (this is the case where I work, as a thru freight conductor), so you pretty much have the route memorized.  And lastly, there are big bright lights on the front of the engine, it's not like we are out there in the dark.

Answer 7

the tracks are all computer driven now..

Answer 8

??? Seriously ???

I actually LOVE joking with the conductors of my local train... telling them not to make any wrong turns.

Answer 9

They just follow the tracks, moon shining on them lights the way.....