How does a train get lost if it's on rails?

Question

How does a train get lost if it's on rails?

Answer 1

it doesnt, but that looked like a funny line from that new movie about those brothers...

Answer 2

It can happen.

In most mainline territory there are sensors on the rail to tell the dispatcher where a train is at all times.

If the power goes out or the computer systems go down, the train will "disappear" from the screen and it is esentially "lost"

although the crew onboard will know where they are.

I once heard a dispatcher call on the radio, "every train that hears this STOP IMMEDIATLY!!"

His screen had gone blank and had no idea where anyone was, as you can imagine, that is a very very stressful few minutes wondering if a headlight is going to be coming around the next corner.

I was on some locomotives in a yard in Oregon once, the fog was so thick we could not see a thing, had absolutely no idea where were, couldnt see the grab rails on front of the locomotive so we stopped and called the yardmaster on the radio and said stick your head out the window and I will honk the horn and put both headlights on bright and see if can tell where we are. We were less than a hundred yards form the office but might just as well have been on a different planet.

Another time a crew was operating under similar circumstances ( heavy heavy fog) and a bridge was not set for them, it was the kind that turns to allow barge traffic to pass. The crew could not see the stop signal for the heavy fog and ran into the river killing both of them.

I guess if you do lose a train they are not hard to find though, just follow their tracks!! (sorry, I couldnt help myself)

Answer 3

they dont i never heard of a train getting lost yet and my boyfriend works 4 the train company so i would have heard of it by now

Answer 4

A complete train not, but they lost (years ago) single freight cars, taken off the train at a wrong station.

Answer 5

Individual pieces of equipment can and do get lost.  Improper handling, wrong car ID, clerical or computer error.

As Rango has said, trains at times do do get "lost" on CTC boards in the short term, but they're always found, FAST.

But, every once in a while, you'll see a bulletin when getting the paper work for your trip, to be "on the lookout" for engine #XXXX.  Losing an engine takes some doing, but it happens.

I expect some day, a note will arrive, saying, "If you want to see engine #XXXX alive again, leave $750,000 in a brown suitcase near the bench in the park."