Security risk?

[Anonymous]

At least this is one thing they can't blame photographers for.

[coborn35]

LOL ironken. and no, MSTS and Trainz does not show you where the generator switch and isolation switches are. Not to mention they would most likely burn out the traction motors.

[Anonymous]

I can tell you why one such auction ended soon....I ratted them off to our resource protection people. Got a call back from them on it. The item got sold and shipped. Our people contacted the buyer and got it back. There is absolutely no need to have those items floating around. Does this type of stuff happen with airline buffs too? Seems to me that you should get yer boobies in a ringer just as fast with th RR as you would screwing with airlines.

[edblysard]

According to the Chief of Police at the PTRA...I should have added that qualifier...regardless, imagine if a local or state cop finds one in your possession, and you don’t work for a railroad...
And you’re near the tracks or a switch
Talk about having a bad day!


Of course, that might, maybe, explain why the ebay auction ended early on those!

Ed

[Anonymous]

Ed, I didn't know it was a felony to posess a sw key if you aren't a rail........That's good!

[edblysard]

Most of us don’t "lock" the doors...you can, but its not really needed, besides, where would any thief go with the motor?
Its not like you can drive it home and hide it in your gararge...
And once you hit CTC, you’re pretty much tagged; dispatcher can run you into any siding the cops request.

I’m with ironken, its the switch keys that scare me...by the way, its a felony to have one in your possession if you do not work for a railroad...my road engraves your work ID number on the keys we are issued...so if I lose one, or sell it, I am in deep crud...


Ed

[alstom]

QUOTE: I think RRs can secure their idle locos by keeping them in secure locations or by locking the cab doors.

Exactly! They can keep the loco doors locked. I believe that there is a lock installed in the cab doors, just in case. But the thing is, I saw some twenty-year-olds get off of a loco and the door was unlocked. Either the engineer left it unlocked or there is no lock.

Richard

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ironken

Does the train simulator show you where the gen field switch is, isolation switch? What if the loco was left in trail? Does it show you how to set it up for the lead? By rule, engines not attached to cars cannot be left unattended on the main. If left unattended on auxillary tracks they must be protected by derail or a facing point switch lined and locked against movement. Can't go too far.

No, I don't think the train simulator game gives you that information, but what about items like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/GE-Dash-8-Locomotive-Operating-Manual-rev-1988_W0QQitemZ6552262727QQcategoryZ130QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Anonymous]

Does the train simulator show you where the gen field switch is, isolation switch? What if the loco was left in trail? Does it show you how to set it up for the lead? By rule, engines not attached to cars cannot be left unattended on the main. If left unattended on auxillary tracks they must be protected by derail or a facing point switch lined and locked against movement. Can't go too far.

[Anonymous]

http://cgi.ebay.com/104-Railroad-switch-key_W0QQitemZ6549927214QQcategoryZ4129QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Union-Pacific-Railroad-Padlock-Key_W0QQitemZ6546528043QQcategoryZ4129QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Heres a couple items that were definitely a security risk. Notice that they ended early and are no longer available for sale. No doubt they were confiscated by the railroad that uses these keys.

[SchemerBob]

I've never had Trainz but I do own Microsoft Train Simulator, and have driven trains on it several times. As far as I know, the main controls and gauges, in the Dash 9 for instance, are very similar if not exactly like the real ones. It would be VERY easy to at least get a train going if you had played the game for years.

[Anonymous]

That's an old Reverser. It's brass. They're made of plastic now. Reversers aren't that big of a deal. I carry a few in my grip for emergencies. Hearing about switch keys on Ebay is what makes me kringe. Besides our resource protection group watches Ebay for stolen BNSF property.

[Anonymous]

Regarding the locomotive reverser keys, does each locomotive have its own unique key that can be only used in a particular locomotive? Or can a reverser key for a locomotive built by EMD, for example, be used in any model of EMD locomotive within certain parameters (like the decade in which the locomotive was built- 1970's, 1980's, etc.)?

[DrummingTrainfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by coborn35

Technically yes, realistically no. It would be very hard for someone, other than people with training like Me,Ed, and MC............to driive the locomotive.

Don't forget video games. I own Trainz sim 04 and (I'm not sure...so if i need serious correcting please do it) it seems like the controls seem just like the real ones I've seen in pictures. Although I'm sure that if some nimrod wanted to "hack" into a loco they'd figure out very soon that the games aren't 100% accurate.

[coborn35]

Technically yes, realistically no. It would be very hard for someone, other than people with training like Me,Ed, and MC............to driive the locomotive.

[dharmon]

And yet one can buy a car with no waiting period, background or ID check........and they are less responsibly used and kill more folks than trains or guns......hmmm

[oltmannd]

Sure, but where would you go? (other than to jail, eventually)

I think RRs can secure their idle locos by keeping them in secure locations or by locking the cab doors.

[railroad65]

I thought reversers were locked up or kept more secure than being sold on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Locomotive-Reverser-Key-Train-Engine-Railroad_W0QQitemZ6551192947QQcategoryZ4129QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


If you buy, can you drive(operate) a locomotive?[?][?][?][?]


Railroad65