Question:

Why don't trains have wing mirrors?

by  |  earlier

0 LIKES UnLike

This is my brother's question really. He always thought it was daft that train drivers couldn't see what was going on behind them, especially if a fire occurred, etc

 Tags:

   Report
Answer The Question I've Same Question Too

23 ANSWERS

Sort By: Date  |  Rating

  1. allway thought that to


  2. Wing mirrors are used by vehicles to see that the road is clear before pulling out and overtaking. Not much chance of that with a train

  3. Most of them do, if you really look for them, you will find them.

  4. Some UK trains have mirrors but they're only for special use such as when shunting. Normally a mirror would be rather pointless on a train. Unless it could enable the driver to see the whole train, both sides + top and bottom then it wouldn't be able to give him any useful information. Because of bends in track, bridges etc. the mirror would probably not be able to 'see' any further than the very front few wagons of a train anyway - not very helpful.

    If the train 'separated' then the brakes would come on automatically so there's no need to watch out for that; fire on board a train is an incredibly rare thing and other systems monitor for that anyway.

    Also, I would rather that the driver was full-time watching the railway line ahead to look out for junk that brain-dead idiots tend to dump on the track.

    Some Swiss trains have retractable wing mirrors so that they can be used at unstaffed halts to see that everyone's aboard before departure. In the UK we have mirrors on the platforms for that job.

  5. if it was a long train they would have to have dumbo ears sized wing mirrors to see behind!!!

    trains don't need them as nothing will ever take over them. we have them so we can see cars/motorcycles approaching behind, and know if they are pulling out round us. also, for roundabouts to make sure there are no accidents.

    if there was a fire on a train, there are buttons and levers to pull in carriages that passengers push/pull to alert the driver.

  6. I think they don't have faces because they would get bugs in their eyes.

  7. Trains don't normally have wing mirrors. If the driver needs to look back it is easier to open the side window and look out. It is the guard's job to keep an eye on the train and the shunter's job when the train is maneovering in the yard to see that it doesn't foul other lines, etc.

  8. Most locomotives in the USA do have them.We are supposed to look back on curves to keep an eye out for things like sticking brakes,dragging equipment,hot wheel bearing ,etc.It's easier to just turn and look though

  9. Why would they want them

  10. aerodynamics. if they had wing mirrors it would slow them down quite a lot.

  11. they have their hands full looking ahead. their current usage instruments show them when they are draggind a couple box cars.

  12. Electric trains do not have them coz there are no vehicles that will overtake them at all and they don't have to reverse out of parking spaces. About the coach on rail thing, there is a computer screen with the coaches flashing on it , if one drails then it will flash red. If the driver doesn't see what's happening on the screen, it's his own fault.

    I suspect diesel trains in america have them because they might need to reverse back instead of pulling foward the coaches.

  13. I have a better one!! Why don't trains have faces like thomas the tank engine?

  14. Wing Mirrors would have no effect at all, indeed they would be a distraction to drivers.  The Conductor / Gaurd is responsible for the inside of the train as far as making sure everything is ok and as most new rolling stock is now fitted with CCTV operated from the Drivers Cabs, Smoke Detecetors that can even register someone smoking the services are getting safer.

    As for noticing that the carrages had come off, the Driver knew they had, but very difficult to stop a train travelling at such a high speed at a high tonnage at once.

  15. they have retractable ones on the the light rail system.

  16. some trains do have them ,only used in stations to check doors are clear.Old goods trains had windows on the side of the brake van so the guard could check the train, periscope on the roof to see the signals.

  17. i work on the railways , and some trains HAVE wing mirrors . its so that the drivers can see if the shunters are at the back of the loco. only ever seen them on e.w.s trains, class 66, and NO i,am not a train spotter

  18. Because trains run on TRACKS

  19. Actually some HAVE :-)

    e.g. http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/at/elec... (these can fold away when driving).

  20. more interesting still, since they now have lady drivers, are there interior mirrors for checking one's make up and hair?

  21. The reason they don't is that someone on the engine is always looking back. Besides they have radio communication at all times to know what is going on, also block signals as well.

  22. Actually, they don't have wing mirrors, because it has to stand out so far from the side of the train. In stations there are usually a couple of idiots who do not listen when they are told to "Stand behind the yellow line". So when the train comes into the station the wing mirrors hit a couple of idiots against the head. So to stop all this drama from happening, trains do not have wing mirrors.

    Hope this helps a little. lol

  23. Who needs wing mirrors, nothing is about to overtake you.  The guard at the rear of the train can see forward though a sort of periscope thingy.
You're reading: Why don't trains have wing mirrors?

Question Stats

Latest activity: earlier.
This question has 23 answers.

BECOME A GUIDE

Share your knowledge and help people by answering questions.
Register Now