Train operations?

Question

How does the remote access work while controlling train engines? What I mean is one guy has a big controller on him and controls the train to hook up cars etc?? How does it run the brakes and throttle?

Answer 1

Coolhand gave you a good answer.I just want to add it's a poor substitute for a human in the cab running the throttle.Where i work there have been a bunch of accidents caused by remotes.Thank God none have resulted in any fatalities yet.The remotes have burned so many bad spots in the yard rails that traversing them is like driving a car down a washboard dirt road.But hey in the interest of corporate greed anything goes!

Answer 2

On most systems this is operated via the big controller.   There are also remote buttons for use in an emergency.

Also most are required to have a built in fail safe system.   This is operated from a central operations bureau, which monitors all traffic.   If it spots a failure at any time or place it immediately STOPS or DIVERTS.  

This back up has proved to be a vital component in this industry.   It is proven 100% safe.    It is also tested regularly.

Answer 3

The operator carries a small remote box on his chest, controls the throttle, brakes, horn, reverser.

It is not necessarily a safe operation, the railroads had to change several critical safety rules in order to implement it.

There is not a railroad that has not had several incidents that would have been avoided had there been a person in the cab, sideswipes, switches ran thorugh, etc.

They all sweep the statistics under the rug becasue it ie embarassing to them.

Proving once again that safety is of utmost importance until it gets in the way.

You can't replace a man in the cab.

Answer 4

If you are asking about remote control switching in yards, then maybe I can answer.  There are two guys, (or girls), one a foreman, the other a switchman.  Either can have control (primary) of the units.  It depends on if it is flat switching or a hump yard.  They can switch back and forth being primary by radio signals sent back and forth between the devices.  The primary has control over throttle and braking, but the secondary has the ability to put the engines or train into emergency.  The controllers are the same, it's just a matter of who is primary at the time.  Many times the foreman is primary while the switchman just lines the switches.  There is also a man down feature, when the control box is tilted past a 45 degree angle for more than a few seconds, the train goes into emergency and it broadcasts over the radio the tone for 911 and then "man down, man down".  It is then the responsibility of the yardmaster or dispatcher to make sure that no one is hurt (it could go off when you are lacing up air hoses if you don't hit the tilt override button).  To answer your last question, the lead engine in a remote consist has a remote receiver that allows the engines brakes and throttle to be controlled remotely.  Then the lead engine controls the other engines just like in a normal consist.