"Tilt Desk"?

[eolafan]

While listening to my scanner trackside I will regularly hear over the air something like "BNSF Primary Tilt Desk Test Complete...etc." followed within a few minutes by "BNSF Secondary Tilt Desk Test Complete...etc.". I've been wondering what this is all about for some time...can anybody enlighten me on this strange transmission over BNSF radio frequency? Thanks,

[jeffhergert]

Primary and Secondary tilt test (don't know about the desk part) sound like RC operators testing the "man down" safety feature of their belt pack.  They are designed to send an emergency message (UP's say man down) if the control unit tilts over (IIRC) 45 degrees. 

The primary operator is the one who (at that time) has control over the RC locomotive functions.  The secondary operator can't make the locomotive do anything other than stop.  (It's been a while since I played with them, the secondary might be able to blow the horn or ring the bell in addition to stopping the movement.) Primary and secondary can be changed between belt pack controls as needed.    

That would be my guess anyway.

Jeff

[tree68]

jeffhergert

if the control unit tilts over (IIRC) 45 degrees

Gee, hope they're not testing the desktop controls in the locomotive.....   

Actually, I would opine that the "desk test" may be akin to a "bench test," in that it's done in a controlled environment (crew room/office), ie, "on the desk," before the pack is actually linked to the locomotive.

I'm sure someone with RC experience will happen on this thread and straighten us out.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

How do you keep the thing from tilting over 45 degrees - or the emergency signal from being sent - when the RCO has to go between cars to link air hoses, bend down to throw a switch lever, re-tie his/ her boot laces, pick-up something they dropped, etc. ? 

- Paul North. 

[dakotafred]

Maybe 90 degrees was intended? (Man horizontal.)

[eolafan]

The informed guesses offered here sound logical to me. Thanks guys!!!

[BrendenPerkins]

I'm a certified RCO. The tilt sensor is touchy, anything past 45 degrees triggers it. When it's triggered a loud beep comes from the remote box that you're wearing until you get the box up right. If you don't get it upright in time it throws the locomotive into emergency. This happens to both the man currently running the movement and the one not in control. There is a toggle switch that can be used to turn this feature off for 60 seconds giving you enough time to throw a switch, couple an air hose, etc.

While I'm talking about remotes... The man on the crew who isn't running the remote unit at the time still has some features that he can control. He can blow the horn, turn on the bell, put the train into emergency, turn on the headlight and trigger an emergency application from the tilt feature.