Cameras on the front of loco's

[samfp1943]

INterestingly enough, this evening there was a show on Spike-TV titled "Train Wrecks", the host was the ex Sheriff who does "The Worlds Wildest Police Videos". Unfortunately I only caught the last 15 ,minutes.. showed the German ICE train wreck {that involved the wheel breaking and the train stacking against the bridge}. The Wreck of the Sunset Limited as it crossed the bridge in Alabama. The wreck that Operation Life Saver has of the tractor trailer hit by the NS train[ it happened some years ago around the Layafette,IN area}, and the Train that hit the gasoline tanker truck in the area of Mexico City some time back... Don't know if this was just a one time shot for this type of event or is possibly going to be a regular feature such as the "Worlds Wildest Police Videos"

[Anonymous]

I think this is a good idea to do for reducing lawsuits.

[oskar]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

QUOTE: Originally posted by oskar

how do you get the video's to run.

kevin

I'm not sure, but they could be wired to become activated when the engineer turns on the ditch lights ,which is mandatory that they flash for grade crossings.

on the web site. The camera turns on past 3 MPH and stops 10 minutes after stopping




kevin

[Anonymous]

Are there any stats from the lawyers on this forum as to how many lawsuits involving crossings or other railroad related incidents are actually settled out of court? And does the propensity towards settling as opposed to fighting the lawsuits better for everyone involved?
Personally, I think the general public has been led to believe that the rr is always at fault because settlements infer guilt.

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by oskar

how do you get the video's to run.

kevin

I'm not sure, but they could be wired to become activated when the engineer turns on the ditch lights ,which is mandatory that they flash for grade crossings.

[Wdlgln005]

In addition to the camera in the loco, there may also be camersa installed by the city/ Here in Nashville, there is a move on to install cameras in the downtown area & in parks. The police use it to monitor unlawful conduct. You may want to check if they also put some up at bad intersections or grade crossings. Traffic cops check to see if you stop on red traffic light?

[oskar]

how do you get the video's to run.




kevin

[zardoz]

The railroads ought to take a bunch of the uneventful trips and make a video tape to sell to railfans. Not quite an "in the cab" video, but methinks some of the tapes would be kinda neat to watch.

And no, you would not want to see the face of someone who is about to be hit. It is a look that hollywood will never be able to replicate, and it is a look that you will never forget. Even incidents I had over 25 years ago are always available in my mind for whenever I wi***o remember them, which is never.

[CSXrules4eva]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

QUOTE: Originally posted by OneSecondPle

This still seems amazing to me, not the camera aspect of the topic, but the one sentence about how drivers will sue. How hard can it possibly be to see the engine coming, its quite large. seriously, if anyone ever won that suit I would be amazed.

What amazes me is sometimes they DO win.[V] People need to take responsibility for there stupid actions.

I agree with you here 100 percent! When a person makes a mistake, it pays to take responcibility for your own actions, and not try to place what you did wrong on someone else. I notice that happens a lot, espeacilly out on the road. This can be another contributing factor as to why auto insurance is so high. Many people also place the blame of what they did wrong on others in cases that don't involve transportation, for instance take a look at the lady that sued McDonald's for 3 million and won, because she spilled hot coffie (spelling) on her lap while driving the car.

This just proves that if you live in America you can always sue someone just to get a quick buck, even though you might have been wrong. It all depends on weather or not you have a good lawyer.

[blade]

i belive it is a great idea who's time has finally come.there are way too many grade crossing accidents and some people want to see if they can ''beat'' the train,endangering not only thier own lives but those of others as well.this way putting cameras on the front of loco's when it's time to investigate a grade crossing accident the investigators will know who's at fault instead of blaming the railroads.there are always billboard signs up everywhere cautioning people to STOP LISTEN LIVE.

[wgnrr]

There was a show on the Discovery Times channel, on TV, and it was about how railroads should always be reliable for railroad crossings, and that they always do everything wrong. I just shook my head at it when the lawyer showed us how the guy that died crossed the crossing crossed the tracks. People don't take a minute out of their commute in order to look both ways, and make shure they aren't going to get hit by a train. They also showed that they had a Operation Lifesaver train on the Nofolk Southern, where they put a camera in the engine, and TVs in the passenger cars behind. When a driver crossed the tracks when the lights are going, they radioed the Police officers that were stationed a block away from the train, and they gave the driver a ticket.

Phil

[wabash1]

For the most part the mic has been placed under the floor on engineers side of cab, this is done so the horn and bell can be heard on the digital tape . there is some still in cab and none has ever been disabled. the camera records and is like us in the cabs when we lose sight of the car in front of the engine so does the camera. it is nice to be called into court and testify on what happend have the plaintiff and his lawyer trumping up stuff trying to get you off gaurd then they go sit down heads held high till our lawyers get out the film. step by step you prove what you did . then the plaintiff and his lawyer put thier head between thier legs and kiss thier case good bye... it is also used against trespassers in some cases.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Brak710101

Is there even any video from the view of the loco in any sort of accident? It always seems that its someone witha video camer or a security camera, and never actually from the railroad.

Anyone have a video? Or know where they are?

I would guess that the video is not intended for public consumption and would never see the light of day - not 100% sure but it would most likely belong to either the RR or the investigating authority, and after the investigation had been completed it would either be securely filed or destroyed. Given these are usually fatal accidents I really can't see why people would want to see the footage - that would be rather sick to my mind. While the amateur with a camcorder may just catch a car being hit by a train, there's surely a chance that the loco cam would catch the driver's face just before impact - not something anyone would want to see.

[colsul]

Guys,

You have saved me a mile of work thanks very much for the links and info.

Col

[Anonymous]

Is there even any video from the view of the loco in any sort of accident? It always seems that its someone witha video camer or a security camera, and never actually from the railroad.

Anyone have a video? Or know where they are?

[AntonioFP45]

One of the best investments railroads should make. Too many people take advantage of our loophole filled system and file successful lawsuits that have no justification.

There have been a very few cases where crossing gates didn't work or engineers didn't blow horns..........but statistically these are rare.

Yes, the cameras should be installed without any audio recording devices.

[chad thomas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by OneSecondPle

This still seems amazing to me, not the camera aspect of the topic, but the one sentence about how drivers will sue. How hard can it possibly be to see the engine coming, its quite large. seriously, if anyone ever won that suit I would be amazed.

What amazes me is sometimes they DO win.[V] People need to take responsibility for there stupid actions.

[chad thomas]

Wise investment. How many of these frivolous lawsuits would it take to pay for all the cameras? Methinks one, mabee two.

[Anonymous]

This still seems amazing to me, not the camera aspect of the topic, but the one sentence about how drivers will sue. How hard can it possibly be to see the engine coming, its quite large. seriously, if anyone ever won that suit I would be amazed.

[ChuckCobleigh]

BNSF is doing this too.

http://www.bnsf.com/employees/communications/bnsf_today/2005/05/2005-05-12-b.html

http://www.bnsf.com/media/news/articles/2005/05/2005_05_18a.html

From the BNSF employee magazine come the following six great paragraphs on train cameras:

QUOTE:

Most train crews have seen the sight more times than they’d care to. A motorist approaches a crossing, stops at the fl ashers or the gates as the train approaches, then drives through the crossing, with the train much too close for comfort.
Sometimes the driver’s luck runs out, and the train strikes the auto.

Regardless of the fact that the driver most likely caused the accident, the result can be a lawsuit by the driver or his or her family. Often, members of the train crew are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

In March of this year, BNSF began taking delivery of production locomotives equipped with forward-facing video cameras from GE Transportation Rail. The cameras are being installed to help provide information on gradecrossing and train/pedestrian accidents.

That information can help defend BNSF and train crew members by showing that the warning devices at the crossing were functioning properly. The cameras also will provide information about driver and pedestrian behavior.

According to Rick Lifto, BNSF’s assistant vice president, Claims, videos from on-board locomotive recordings produced in defense of grade-crossing claims are compelling. “Video recordings on other railroads have resulted in the dismissal of lawsuits, the driver’s acknowledgement of his/her own negligence, and the increased willingness of those pursing litigation to resolve matters in a fair and reasonable manner,” says Lifto.

The cameras not only show the actions of those who may fail to yield the right of way to BNSF trains, but the sounding of the horn in approach of the crossing is verified by audio recording from outside of the cab. Says Lifto: “To see and hear the events in advance of an accident creates almost irrefutable evidence. This will go a long way to reduce frivolous lawsuits.”

[samfp1943]

QUOTE: Originally posted by oltmannd

NS has been doing this for quite a while. You can read about it at the NS web site. www.nscorp.com. Type "railview" in the search field and you'll get links to lots of articles about it.

Oltmannd is correct, about six years ago the NS was getting started with the camera mounted in the cab.. The major discussion and problem was with the Locomotive Engineers, their concern was that the conversations of the cabs occupants might be recorded and used against them in labor discussions..also the company was worried that an in cab recording might show the company in a bad light if produced in court, i.e. comments made before during or in the aftermath of a colision..Bad for the "SUITS".. so I think they eventually mounted the cameras but disabled the recording enhancement.
I think that BNSF also does cameras too, as does Union Pacific, but I think theirs is on a limited installation basis.

[oltmannd]

NS has been doing this for quite a while. You can read about it at the NS web site. www.nscorp.com. Type "railview" in the search field and you'll get links to lots of articles about it.

[colsul]

Gang,
I desperately need your help on this one. A couple of months ago there was a paragraph in a news item either in the 'Trains' mag or in a 'News Wire' article saying that one of the Class 1's were going to mount camera's in the front of their loco's to assist with investigations when an accident (Grade Crossing, collision etc) occurs.

Could one you good people steer me in the direction to find this article or news snippet.

Many thanks in advance,
Col