How do train engineers sleep?

Question

I know that truck drivers sleep in a sleeper but where do train engineers sleep.

Answer 1

We sleep the same as everyone else, in a bed, usually in a hotel, motel or company housing at away from home terminals.

The question, and the problem, is "when".  The answer is, not enough and always disturbed.  Fatigue is the most dangerous of all those things that can contribute to inattentiveness or errors, but of which can have disastrous consequences.  24 to 36 hours without sleep is commonplace on large carriers operating busy terminals with a high traffic volume.

Right now, the Hours of Service Act provides that no more than 12hours "on duty" (not eight) can be performed before being relieved.  But, just for fun, lets live three days as a railroader.

It's Friday morning.  You've had a good nights sleep and the phone rings a 6:30 AM for a trip leaving from your home terminal, called for 8:00 AM on duty.  Hot diggity dog, a rare daylight trip.

You climb aboard and you're off like a herd of turtles.  There's work to do in route to your away from home terminal, lots of traffic coming at you and maintenance of way holds you for a couple of hours.  You finally reach your away from home terminal and tie up at 7:00 PM, eleven hours on duty.  You want to get back home, of course, so you don't book for extra rest.

You take a shower and head to a restaurant for something to eat.  You go back to your room and, since no one can "switch off" on demand, you read or watch TV until you get drowsy, then hop in bed around 11:30 PM.  You just get to sleeping good, and the phone rings and you're called for 3:00 AM to head home.

You hop on and away ya go.  This trip doesn't go much better, and you find yourself getting off duty at 2:30 PM.  Before regestering off duty, you check the line up, and see that there are only four trains that are out and running that can involve your freight pool, there are eight men ahead of you, and projected traffic dictates you will not go back to work until until Sunday morning.

So, you get the lawn mowed that Saturday afternoon, as well as fixing a sprinkler, hanging a wall clock for the wife and you decide to take the wife and kids out to a movie they've really been wanting to see.  

Now, it's 10:00 PM Saturday night, and you head for bed.  And, ten minutes later, the phone rings, and you're called for 11:45 PM on a dog train that you know is going to work the full 12 hours, which it does.  Why?  Well, there were three trains running that didn't show on the line up (totally inexcusable in this computer age), and three of the guys that were ahead of you on the board have marked off for service, and it's your turn.  Only problem is, your eyeballs are already on your cheeks when you go on duty.  By the time you see a bed again, you've had a 2 and1/2 hour nap in the last 48 hours.

This scenario occurs all day every day all across north America.

It is really a mess and it needs an overhaul, as well as the work rules that relate to being available for service and rest intervals where the Hours of Service is not an issue.

By way of example, airline pilots working an "extra board", just as rails do, have an eight hour widow of opportunity where they can expect to be called for service.  If they are not called within that window, they come of the "active" list for 12 to 16 hours before again being in that eight hour window.

This is a srious problem, it is dangerous, and it will not change unless legislation comes out of DC to make the changes.  That will only happen when lawmakers' constituents start circulating petitions to demand the change that will make the nations railroads not only safer, but more secure.

Who knows?  Maybe with a little "tune up", the divorce rate amongst railroaders may drop below three times the national average.

Answer 2

Alot of in depth answers here.  Bottom line is engineers and conductors don't have sleeping quarters on a train like truck drivers.  If we fall asleep, we fall asleep in our chair on the engine.  We "railroaders" stay in hotels when we get to where we're going.  We can catnap while stopped on the train, but that's it.  The engines are not set up to be slept in.  The chairs recline, "if not broken" and that's about it.  Like a bucket seat in a pick up.....just not as comfortable.

Answer 3

give won2many a star he is exactly right they can only drive for 8 hrs. and a other crew has to take over period if they are in the middle of nowhere the railroad has to provide rtransportation  for them to a hotel

Answer 4

there are different rules for different class of service 8 hr in the yard except if the tell you that they need you for over time than its 11 hrs and for road service you have 12 hrs that's 12 hrs of work than if you are not at the terminal where you are headed to they can and will but you to bed  in a hotel and after your rest max 8 hrs you are off again going the same way for 12 more hours. if you are lucky after the first 12 hrs work they will taxi you to the term anal that you where headed to for your rest if you are not called after being there for 19 hrs your 12 hr clock starts the rule of thumb is 12 hrs to get there 12 hr there and 12 hrs home for a total of 36 hrs from the time you get called to the time you get home my record for such a trip is 58 hrs away from home as fro your question we sleep in a hotel are bunk house

Answer 5

ON THE JOB, LIKE ALL OTHER UNION EMPLOYEES.......

Answer 6

They don't. They operate for eight hours and that's it! No more. They have substations along their routes. As eight hours approach, they're in radio contact with the substation. A vehicle brings a new crew to them at the nearest crossing.

truck drivers have the convenience of pulling off the road.

Answer 7

In the US, its a rule that you don't sleep on duty.  Even closing your eyes is a rule violation.  Potentially you are on duty 12 hours at the most and off for at least 8.  One minute either way and you are in violation of FRA rules.

Otherwise its likely you will be driven to a motel or a bunkhouse  when a crew change happens - if the 12 hours expire on the road somewhere.

After 12 hours you are outlawed.

Answer 8

either in a bunk house or a hotel until the return trip

Answer 9

They would usually sleep in a hotel, or motel room paid for by their employer. That is, if they could get any adequate amount of rest at all.