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Cab mounted camera's (problem or not)

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  • Member since
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  • From: N.W Indiana
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Cab mounted camera's (problem or not)
Posted by LM&I engineer on Thursday, July 26, 2007 11:57 PM
The short line i work for services a large steel mill,we work under yard rules only, plant safety  just put security camera's front and rear with a black box on one of our sw-1200  engines. the only viewing monitor is in plant security. this is new too us here and i was  wondering  if anyone has worked with this before.any comments welcomed.
engineer Michael Laingren
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Posted by silicon212 on Friday, July 27, 2007 6:54 PM
They're probably looking out for trespassers.
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Posted by tomikawaTT on Friday, July 27, 2007 7:54 PM

That's one way to get a look at what's going on in places hidden from the fixed security cameras.  It could also save a lot of discussion if some rubber-roader argues about whether he or the rail equipment had the right of way.

It could also generate some discussion (in the Big Man's office) if some rubber-roader makes a habit of proving that he's lucky...

Chuck

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Posted by spikejones52002 on Sunday, July 29, 2007 11:11 AM

I sure would like to get one for my car.

Then I could prove when a 18 wheeler cuts me off.

When I am doing 30 and a cop pulls me over for doing 45.

I have attempted to mount a DV camera on my dash but no success.

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Posted by csxengineer98 on Friday, August 3, 2007 1:01 AM
 spikejones52002 wrote:

I sure would like to get one for my car.

Then I could prove when a 18 wheeler cuts me off.

When I am doing 30 and a cop pulls me over for doing 45.

I have attempted to mount a DV camera on my dash but no success.

only thing wrong with that is when the cop pulls you over.. you may get sighted for a windshield obstruction.. was given a warning by a cop that got me for speeding and saw my what i found out wasnt pluged in radar detetor... that haveing that on the windsheild is a violation and i can be sighted for it... but he didnt sight me for that..but i got a spanking for going 81 in a 65....

csx engineer 

"I AM the higher source" Keep the wheels on steel
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Posted by spikejones52002 on Friday, August 3, 2007 3:52 AM

Radar detectors are illegal in a lot of states.

A cop will flash his radar gun and look to see who's brakes lights flash.

I had this happen on a open road and I was doing the speed limit in Illinois before it was illegal to have one.

The cop attempted to brow beat me until I informed him I had the cruse control on and I know exactly how fast I was going.

As he walked away He stated, "Those things will get you in trouble."

If that was the case. Then they could not require you to place city and/or state stickers on your windshield.

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  • From: Poconos, PA
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Posted by TomDiehl on Friday, August 3, 2007 5:44 AM
In an attempt to stear this back to the original question: These cameras can also be a good CYA for the engine crew in the event of a collision with another vehicle. By "black box" I'm assuming you're talking about one that also records speed, braking, horn operation, etc. This info can give good proof of who's at fault in these collisions.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you're up to. Chief of Sanitation; Clowntown
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Posted by ouengr on Saturday, August 4, 2007 5:04 PM

Forgive my ignorance, but doesn't a train always have right of way over a roadway vehicle?

I think that the cameras are there to prove what happened in the event of an accident whether with a car or on the tracks.

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Posted by silicon212 on Sunday, August 5, 2007 3:21 AM
 ouengr wrote:

Forgive my ignorance, but doesn't a train always have right of way over a roadway vehicle?

I think that the cameras are there to prove what happened in the event of an accident whether with a car or on the tracks.

 

Trains, due to laws of physics regarding starting and stopping, are given the right of way over street traffic.  However, things such as warning lights and gates at a railroad crossing can fail, and were it not for the cameras, they would 'fail' much more often than they really do.  If you know what I mean.  In today's litigation-crazy world, someone could say "The gates didn't come down", or "I never saw the lights on", or "I never heard the train coming" - things of that nature.  The LocoCams on most Class-1 railroads today record such events.

There are also instances when trains don't have the automatic ROW over vehicular traffic.  One such location is the team track in the Mesa yard on the UP Phoenix Line.  This track crosses McDonald Dr. in parallel with the mainline but is not hooked up to the grade crossing predictor circuit.  In this case, the lights go on and the gates go down when the leading axle in the movement makes contact with the block circuit for the crossing - approx. 50' on either side of the level crossing.  The movement must stop and wait for the gates to come down before proceeding. 

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Posted by route_rock on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 12:36 PM

  We have a crossing like that here too. Stop and wait for the gates to drop. But once down we have the ROW. just so you know what right of way means= I am right and your in the damn way!

  I think our cams save a lot of litigation. So maybe yours will do the same or like others posted maybe they are using you to be roving eyes?call you Engineer undercover lol.

Yes we are on time but this is yesterdays train

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