Amtrak had another loco run out of fuel yesterday. Understand it was the #390. A partial solution might be the way airlines try to verify the amount of fuel.
The fueler fills out a fuel ticket calling for amount of fuel into the tanks. He then uses the counter to imprint amount pumped. No pencil in the amount. Then one copy is given to crew or placed into a holder. Crew then verifys by one of several methods.
The RRs especially Amtrak could have a fuel tickets again with amount fuel added and note that fuel tank full. Give 2 copys of ticket to engineer who would then place ticket in holder. Any engineer could then verify when and where loco(s) last filled. Not a complete fail safe but certainly improve situation. If my loco just filled then fine. If a 1000 miles away then further checking.
Enineer can turn in one copy of his fueling and 2nd copy of old fueling
Can't speak to Amtrak's aging and often neglected fleet, but perhaps some 'rail' knows why the class 1 RR's don't have modern, 'remote read' fuel gauges in operation. Or do they?
There are secure, short range wireless technologies available that could implement a more flexible substitute for MU'ed signal cables. Perhaps an early version didn't pass muster (like ACI).
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Dash-8's and later engines are equipped with fuel readout screens on my carrier (when they work and they don't always work). In addition to having the fuel readout available to the locomotive crew, it is a data element that gets sent with the GPS update transmission and is thus available to the locomotive management department.
Amtrak???? In a recent issue of Trains, Doug Riddel (former Amtrak Engineer) highlighted the conditions that caused the Palmetto to persistantly run out of fuel when operating from Savannah to Washington.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
It's often the same situation back in the dining car, "Sorry, we're all out of that."
What's next, that they run out of fuel and the Conductor goes through the cars with an upturned hat to collect "Diesel fuel money" to complete the trip? That the rear of each Amtrak consist displays a bumper sticker reading, "Initimate personal favors for the crew, fuel money, or recreational drugs, no one boards this train for free!"
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
ROFLMAO, Paul........
I haven't seen the original text of that bumper sticker for years!
Well said!
MikeF90 Can't speak to Amtrak's aging and often neglected fleet, but perhaps some 'rail' knows why the class 1 RR's don't have modern, 'remote read' fuel gauges in operation. Or do they? There are secure, short range wireless technologies available that could implement a more flexible substitute for MU'ed signal cables. Perhaps an early version didn't pass muster (like ACI).
1. They do. (Conrail started messing around with MUed fuel gauges in the 1980s)
2. They are not reliable.
3. They are not maintained (see #2)
4. There is no process in place to use them to do anything different (see #2, 3)
5. You can estimate the fuel in the tank just as easily as meausure it, but nobody does that either (see #4)
6. The fueling game is more trying to minimize state fuel tax paid than minimize time spent fueling locomotives. More often tanks that are not even half full get topped off, by plan.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
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