The train drivers in Japan point every 30 seconds at a point ahead of them. Why?!?

Question

While on the trains in Japan, we noticed that the drivers point regularly at something in the distance, perhaps every 30 seconds. All do this, and we couldn't see anything specific that they were pointing at. Some pressed a button marked EB before, some didn't. This is a strange question I know, but it's bugging me. Why do they do this?

Answer 1

This is probably the Japanese railway's equivalent of the American "Dead Mans Pedal".

This was a device incorporated during the years when "dieselization" came upon the American rail roads.  It was in fact  a pedal that the engineers had to keep depressed with their foot while running.  Failure to do so resulted in a "penalty" application of the air brakes.

A penalty application is the result of activating the "PC" valve, PC standing for "pneumatic control".  It is a relay which, when activated, automatically returned the locomotive to "idle" position while in power or dynamic brake and made a full service application of the brakes.  This a very undesireable chain of events, in as much as it produced high stress load levels along the length of the train, propagated via the draft gear (the couplers between cars and the center sill under each car).

The newer locomotices have a version of this that cannot be by-passed (the old school hoggers just stuck a flag stick in a position to hold the pedal down).  The "alerter", as it's called today, has a time-out as a part of it's function.

If there is no action on the control stand (such as moving the throttle, blowing the whistle, applying the brakes, etc.) for a predetermined time, the alerter signals that the time out has been reached and it requires movement on the part of the engineer on the control stand, or, hitting a manual reset button to restart the cycle.

A good thing, actually, but sometimes the reset won't work as intended and a different controlling locomotive will need to be added or switched ahead (from the consist) as a remedy.  Other times the time out can be out of calibration and the thing requires it be reset every 12 to 15 seconds.  This is a real pain.

My guess is that the sensor on their locomotives will read movement of any kind on the part of the engineer, hence the pointing.  On the other hand, American crews in the controlling cab of a train or engine are required to call out the name or aspect of a signal as soon as it becomes visable or audible.  It may be that, on the Japanese railways, the pointing is a required part of the signal calling process, a movement which we don't employ on American railroads.

Answer 2

perhaps to point out different landmarks or other points of interest along the route to be able to know where to find a signal, or to just help them improve their memory of the line

Answer 3

To keep from becoming mezmorized by roadway ahead.

Answer 4

Not sure if this is the same thing, but in America, new trains have a button that has to pushed every 60 sec.  This makes sure the driver is still consious.  If the button is not push the brakes are applied.

Answer 5

Mark B s answer was right about the Japanese safety standards. The Button was probably an AWS or similar device that you have to press to acknowledge that you saw the signal and its color

Answer 6

Its part of the safety training, they must point at each thing as they check it while saying what they are doing out loud.

For example when cross a track they must point up the line and say 'The Line is Clear' (in Japanese) then point down the line and say 'The Line is Clear' again before crossing

The thing in the distance would probably be a signal again they have to point at it and say what colour it is and what action they should take..

Answer 7

To ensure alertness of the driver. It's a part of the training. If this is not done, they could be terminated.