How would an engineer know if part of the train derailed or broke free from the rest of the train? EOT device?

Question

How would an engineer know if part of the train derailed or broke free from the rest of the train? EOT device?

Answer 1

On my train air flows from the front to the end in pipes, joined at each coupler. If part of the train seperates then the air escapes and pressure goes down, very quickly. A message will appear on the computer "low main line air" then you will check the train is not seperated.

Answer 2

he would'nt, the only way to check is to inspect it before the train starts moving

Answer 3

Excellent question.  As with most things concerning train operations, there are many variables at play.

As far as a derailment is concerned, it depends on the nature of the derailment.  Often times a single wheel, a truck of even both trucks of a car can derail without disturbing the brake pipe, which is what supplies the brake system with air.

When this occurs evidence of trouble will not be indicated by the EOT or engineer's gages.  Depending on how far behind the engine the derailment has occurred the engineer or conductor may feel it, or see it when looking back inspecting trains as done on curves where there is good sight line.

It is possible for a train to travel many miles in this condition and sometimes an automated track side detector will notify the engineer via radio or other means that there is derailed equipment.  If not, the derailed equipment will eventually come to a switch, grade crossing or other that causes the derailed equipment to scatter all over the place, aka "in the ditch".  This is the primary reason why a motorist should stop well back of crossing gates at protected or unprotected grade crossings, lest you wind up with a couple hundred tons of freight cars in your lap.

Splut!!

Of course when this happens, then the brake pipe separates, dumping the air and placing the train into emergency braking.  This of course gets the engineers and conductors attention, and definitely shows on the engineers gages.

Having "broke free" is called a "train separation", and is not all that uncommon, but very undesireable, as this in itself can cause a train wreck.  A separation is usually the result of failure of some part of the cars' draft gear, usually a broken knuckle or draw bar, "slip by", which is when the couplers for some reason disengage on a verticle plane, or simple coming uncouple for some reason.  Not always, but more often that not this is due to improper train handling, improper train make up, or improper placement of helper power or distributed power units.  Other times it is due to an "old break", which is a gradual failure of these components over a length of time.

There is one other scenario to cover.  Sometimes the brake pipe breaks or the air hoses between the cars separates, either creating leakage or emergency application of the brakes.  When a leak or separated brake pipe occurs near the end of a long train, the EOT will show the problem, as well as giving an audio warning in the form of a succession of short beeps, a very short time before the engineer sees it on his gages.  Propagation of air through the brake pipe at a service rate travels at (rounded off) 500 feet per second and at the emergency rate of 1000 feet per second.

This means, if you are running a train of 8000 feet in length, and a problem developed close to the rear end it would take 16 seconds for a leak to show on air gages, and 8 seconds for uncoupled air hose or broken brake pipe, separated train or derailed equiment to show on the gages, while the EOT will transmit this data at near the speed of light.

I hope this answers your question.

Answer 4

NOW thats a hard question so lets do a little math.......T=SX4589=RX135X30=1782-25=P7M... =  SO HE SHOULD BE IN BED BY THE TIME HE FIGURES IT OUT ???RIGHT AFTER THE BOSS CALLS AND TELLS HIM ...........HES FIRED

Answer 5

If any part of the train brakes free the brake pipe will come apart and dump train line brake pressure causing the whole train to go into emergency and applying all the brakes...the EOT's  job is to monitor brake pipe pressure and report it to the HTD in the cab..it also will dump brake pipe pressure when the emergency toggle switch is pushed on the HTD..