"NO-MAN TRAINS."

[UPTRAIN]

puters will be the demise of the world poplulation......AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [:p]

[UPTRAIN]

puters will be the demise of the world poplulation......AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [:p]

[Anonymous]

They will put artificial intelligence in loco's and do away with the crew entirely....hehehe.....puters will take over the world....Laterz

[Anonymous]

They will put artificial intelligence in loco's and do away with the crew entirely....hehehe.....puters will take over the world....Laterz

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sooblue

There was a single motor home accident in MN. a few weeks back on interstate 35 near a small town that one of my friends lives in. it was one of the big motor homes.
My friend said that the driver of the motor home had just recently bought it and was taking it out on a trip for the first time. He got up to hwy speed and then put it into cruise contol, then he got up to make a pot of coffee. The motor home crashed.
Still alive after the accident he was asked what happend and he told them that there was something wrong with the cruise control.[:D][:D][:D]

Sooblue

URBAN LEGEND!!! URBAN LEGEND!!! [:o)]

You've been Knicked,my freind....by the U. L. Police! [;)]

Dont make me come after you with my JATO equipted '63 Impala! (another U.L.) or I'll feed you too the Alligator's in the sewers...[:p]

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sooblue

There was a single motor home accident in MN. a few weeks back on interstate 35 near a small town that one of my friends lives in. it was one of the big motor homes.
My friend said that the driver of the motor home had just recently bought it and was taking it out on a trip for the first time. He got up to hwy speed and then put it into cruise contol, then he got up to make a pot of coffee. The motor home crashed.
Still alive after the accident he was asked what happend and he told them that there was something wrong with the cruise control.[:D][:D][:D]

Sooblue

URBAN LEGEND!!! URBAN LEGEND!!! [:o)]

You've been Knicked,my freind....by the U. L. Police! [;)]

Dont make me come after you with my JATO equipted '63 Impala! (another U.L.) or I'll feed you too the Alligator's in the sewers...[:p]

[Supermicha]

@ 44cuin.

Your question is good. How do we pick up cars on route? the answer is, we don´t. the new private german railway makes only mainline operation. picking up one car on the route is just too expensive for the "modern railroad". so the car load must be delivered by truck to the next big yard, where it can be load on a car. thats the situation since 1994, when the german railway was privatized. and that was for ****. many small stations were closed and a big part of the traffic turns away from the railway to the street. i just wait for the year, when the german railway will be bankrupcy. i give here time until 2010.

[Supermicha]

@ 44cuin.

Your question is good. How do we pick up cars on route? the answer is, we don´t. the new private german railway makes only mainline operation. picking up one car on the route is just too expensive for the "modern railroad". so the car load must be delivered by truck to the next big yard, where it can be load on a car. thats the situation since 1994, when the german railway was privatized. and that was for ****. many small stations were closed and a big part of the traffic turns away from the railway to the street. i just wait for the year, when the german railway will be bankrupcy. i give here time until 2010.

[TH&B]

I'm thinking of making my own experiment with an unmanned auto. Set it up like a radio controled toy car then take it for a drive on the freeway controling the vehicle sitting in another car just behind it and watch peoples reactions when they see nobody in the car!
Even better I would fill the car with 4 or 5 dogs. hehehehehe there is only dogs in that car, then see peoples reaction!!
Just kidding ...but it could be done! And it could even be "proven" to be safer.

[TH&B]

I'm thinking of making my own experiment with an unmanned auto. Set it up like a radio controled toy car then take it for a drive on the freeway controling the vehicle sitting in another car just behind it and watch peoples reactions when they see nobody in the car!
Even better I would fill the car with 4 or 5 dogs. hehehehehe there is only dogs in that car, then see peoples reaction!!
Just kidding ...but it could be done! And it could even be "proven" to be safer.

[TH&B]

How do German trains set cars out and pick cars up on route with only one crew member? When I was in Europe I recall that the couplers they use were a safety issue, when humping cars, guys in the bowl each managing 6 tracks would have to stand in front and between the cars to "hook" the cars when they join, then climb out from under the buffers sometimes when stilll moving. Always climbing under between cars to get to the other tracks to hook cars as they continue to hump. Most cars have no hand brake!
-I saw unmanned subway operation in Vancouver, not impressed. Trains were delayed because there was no operator to expidite the train causing overcrowded uncomfortable conditions.
-No man or one man trains are great if the technoligy is set up for it. You would probably have to get rid of our "loose car" system, all switches are to automatic, all lines completely fenced off and no level crossings not even private farm crossings. You wouldn't loose employment because you'd have to build and maintain all this, (just the fencing alone across the system will have to be maintained ) right now cows get on the track all the time. The railways want to save $$ on crews but don't want to spend $$ on overpasses and fencing etc. They would rather spend the $$ making the laws to allow no man trains on tracks that aren't grade seperated. I bet you technoligy exists to run double 58' trailers on the interstate with no driver in the cab!! Just educate the driving public about it and make it legal. It would save alot of $$.

[TH&B]

How do German trains set cars out and pick cars up on route with only one crew member? When I was in Europe I recall that the couplers they use were a safety issue, when humping cars, guys in the bowl each managing 6 tracks would have to stand in front and between the cars to "hook" the cars when they join, then climb out from under the buffers sometimes when stilll moving. Always climbing under between cars to get to the other tracks to hook cars as they continue to hump. Most cars have no hand brake!
-I saw unmanned subway operation in Vancouver, not impressed. Trains were delayed because there was no operator to expidite the train causing overcrowded uncomfortable conditions.
-No man or one man trains are great if the technoligy is set up for it. You would probably have to get rid of our "loose car" system, all switches are to automatic, all lines completely fenced off and no level crossings not even private farm crossings. You wouldn't loose employment because you'd have to build and maintain all this, (just the fencing alone across the system will have to be maintained ) right now cows get on the track all the time. The railways want to save $$ on crews but don't want to spend $$ on overpasses and fencing etc. They would rather spend the $$ making the laws to allow no man trains on tracks that aren't grade seperated. I bet you technoligy exists to run double 58' trailers on the interstate with no driver in the cab!! Just educate the driving public about it and make it legal. It would save alot of $$.

[Supermicha]

Hi.

I also read the article. For me as a german, i can´t understand your way to think. At first, here in germany, every train is operated by only one engineer since steam locos were banned from rails. And it works. we have not more accidents like other railroads have. And we also operate remote control trains. most yard switchers in germany are radio controlled. the engineer walks beside the loco or stands on the front porch. this is good, because we have no automatic couplers here, so the engineer can couple the loco to the cars for its self and no second me is needed. and there are no safety problems. the munich subway is since its opening in the sixtys self operated. the "operator" has just a watching function and tells the train to proceed when all is ok. but the train operated full computer controled for its self. so no signals are needed and the trains can operate with a minor distance of 70 meters between. on main lines, we have no remote control, but something that is called LZB. It is a computer signal system for all trains with speeds more than 160 km/h. the engineer can see the signals on a monitor 8000 meters before he arrive at the real signal, so speeds til 330 km/h are possible also under bad weather conditions like fog and short distances between two trains are possible. i think the american railorads could save much money with one man operation. but what about the second men? unemployment would be the cause, so that is also the wrong way.

[Supermicha]

Hi.

I also read the article. For me as a german, i can´t understand your way to think. At first, here in germany, every train is operated by only one engineer since steam locos were banned from rails. And it works. we have not more accidents like other railroads have. And we also operate remote control trains. most yard switchers in germany are radio controlled. the engineer walks beside the loco or stands on the front porch. this is good, because we have no automatic couplers here, so the engineer can couple the loco to the cars for its self and no second me is needed. and there are no safety problems. the munich subway is since its opening in the sixtys self operated. the "operator" has just a watching function and tells the train to proceed when all is ok. but the train operated full computer controled for its self. so no signals are needed and the trains can operate with a minor distance of 70 meters between. on main lines, we have no remote control, but something that is called LZB. It is a computer signal system for all trains with speeds more than 160 km/h. the engineer can see the signals on a monitor 8000 meters before he arrive at the real signal, so speeds til 330 km/h are possible also under bad weather conditions like fog and short distances between two trains are possible. i think the american railorads could save much money with one man operation. but what about the second men? unemployment would be the cause, so that is also the wrong way.

[jeffhergert]

When talking about main line trains, "remote control" really isn't correct. That implies a human somewhere running the show. Out on the main the train would be controlled by computers. Technology may be possible, but not sure how feasible it is.
Until every grade crossing is illiminated and right of way fenced to prevent tresspassing, liability would be a big issue. I think you will always have at least one person on a train. Also because if the automation breaks down out in the middle of nowwhere, you'ld be able to have the "observer" put the system in manual and run the train to the next repair point. The carriers really can't afford to tie up a busy main, and if the train in question is a time-sensitive (where the rr pays if it's late) train, it needs to move.
Personnally, I think the carriers have mixed feelings. I work for a class 1 in train service and hope they don't go for this. We have remotes in the yard and they aren't as productive as regular engr/condr job. I think the company knows this, but in the bureauacracy you have factions that believe everything the salesmen tell them. They see dollar signs in savings, but don't reallize what they save in one pocket, they pay out of another. Exec A can save money out of his budget, he gets a bonus and a promotion. What does he care if Exec B's budget has to pay more because of A's "savings." It actually benefits A over B but is a detriment to the company long term.
But we only think short term anyway.

[jeffhergert]

When talking about main line trains, "remote control" really isn't correct. That implies a human somewhere running the show. Out on the main the train would be controlled by computers. Technology may be possible, but not sure how feasible it is.
Until every grade crossing is illiminated and right of way fenced to prevent tresspassing, liability would be a big issue. I think you will always have at least one person on a train. Also because if the automation breaks down out in the middle of nowwhere, you'ld be able to have the "observer" put the system in manual and run the train to the next repair point. The carriers really can't afford to tie up a busy main, and if the train in question is a time-sensitive (where the rr pays if it's late) train, it needs to move.
Personnally, I think the carriers have mixed feelings. I work for a class 1 in train service and hope they don't go for this. We have remotes in the yard and they aren't as productive as regular engr/condr job. I think the company knows this, but in the bureauacracy you have factions that believe everything the salesmen tell them. They see dollar signs in savings, but don't reallize what they save in one pocket, they pay out of another. Exec A can save money out of his budget, he gets a bonus and a promotion. What does he care if Exec B's budget has to pay more because of A's "savings." It actually benefits A over B but is a detriment to the company long term.
But we only think short term anyway.

[Anonymous]

I agree with Jim Carney.
I mean, talk about a acident waiting to happen, for that matter many of them. This is proof that technolgy has gone way to far, and we are replacing ourselvs. Technolgy cant replace people. If some people had there way, the only thing we humans could do every day is just exist.

[Anonymous]

I agree with Jim Carney.
I mean, talk about a acident waiting to happen, for that matter many of them. This is proof that technolgy has gone way to far, and we are replacing ourselvs. Technolgy cant replace people. If some people had there way, the only thing we humans could do every day is just exist.

[Train Guy 3]

I wouldn't turst remote controled trains on road trains. The electrical parts you start putting between the human and the machine the more chances of a problem you have. Something is gonna fail big time and you dont want that to be on the road. It will be just like that movie ( can someone find the title for me ) where the whole train is run by a computer, then the guy spills coffee on the keyboard, then the circits fry and the breaks fail. Maybe I'm goin a bit to far but i still wouldn't trust them on the road.

[Train Guy 3]

I wouldn't turst remote controled trains on road trains. The electrical parts you start putting between the human and the machine the more chances of a problem you have. Something is gonna fail big time and you dont want that to be on the road. It will be just like that movie ( can someone find the title for me ) where the whole train is run by a computer, then the guy spills coffee on the keyboard, then the circits fry and the breaks fail. Maybe I'm goin a bit to far but i still wouldn't trust them on the road.

[kenneo]

Originally posted by sooblue

There was a single motor home accident in MN. a few weeks back on interstate 35 near a small town that one of my friends lives in. it was one of the big motor homes.
My friend said that the driver of the motor home had just recently bought it and was taking it out on a trip for the first time. He got up to hwy speed and then put it into cruise contol, then he got up to make a pot of coffee. The motor home crashed.
Still alive after the accident he was asked what happend and he told them that there was something wrong with the cruise control.[:D][:D][:D]

Sooblue



There certainly was something wrong with the cruise control! It got up out of the seat and went to make coffee!

Eric

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