What does AI and Railroading have in common?
By: GabeTehGameh
Creativity. That’s what they have in common. Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI, has made its way into the railroading community, and to me especially. I use AI whenever I really need it. For example, I can’t think of a locomotive to rebuild for the Norwalk Locomotive Works (NLW - a fantasy/fictional locomotive builder formed in my hometown, Norwalk, IA), I tried to be a little silly when it comes to *OpenAI’s Sora extension of ChatGPT and a few days from writing this I though “What if Metra purchased 5 former Union Pacific GE ES44ACs and they sped through Downtown Des Moines with Iowa Interstate Railroad GE ES44AH 516 leading the train with Walter White on the Pilot of the unit” and well I went to Sora and well.. It’s not the best, but IT’S HALARIOUS!
An AI-generated image of Iowa Interstate GE ES44AC #516 “Rock Island Inspired” Heritage Unit (or what is supposed to be the RI commemorative unit) Speeding through Downtown Des Moines, IA with 5 Metra ES44ACs with Breaking Bad character Walter White riding the lead unit on the pilot - This image was created with OpenAI’s Sora ChatGPT extension
To be honest, though, IAIS 516 isn’t in the correct scheme; the actual paint is more like a Rock Island Railroad (AKA CRI&P) Yellow Nose, Red Body Inspired Paint scheme, it’s similar to the Grand Trunk Western (GTW) Red Nose, Blue Body paint scheme. I also did a generation of a CPKC GE ES44AC, and it’s more on the Canadian Pacific side of things…
An AI-generated CPKC GE ES44AC #8078, speeding through Ontario, Canada, on a priority mixed freight train with a GE AC44CWM second in the consist - This image was created with OpenAI’s Sora ChatGPT extension
It got some things right, it’s simply just the classic CP paint scheme without the black radiators and gold stripe, and CPKC lettering. Oh, ever wondered what a CSX GE C44-9WL looks like? Me neither! Sora helped envision it before I did one of my Trainiax Drawings - (Credit to Michael Eby for the Drawings!), like what I usually do,
An AI-generated CSXT GE ‘C44-9WL’ #2696 Idling in CSX’s Waycross, GA Yard waiting for its next assignment - This image was created with OpenAI’s Sora ChatGPT extension
I’m going to be really honest. It looks more like a Canadian National GE C44-9W with teardrops, but the teardrops are removed like Union Pacific GE AC44CW 6759, and the radiators are more GEVO-styled. If you notice, the trucks on the unit are GE Adirondack trucks, primarily used on the GE Dash-7, Dash-8 units. Another example of AI and railroading (aside from image generation) is when I managed to train my ChatGPT to be a locomotive wizard. It began creating rebuilds I couldn’t even think of. One of those rebuilds, the NLW HDL20AH - an EMD SD38-2 Rebuild which extends the frame, adds the wide nose safety cab and flared radiators, similar to the EMD SD70MAC. Another rebuild that is on the NLW (one that I created, but AI helped fix any issues) is the NLW MP55CACWH-T4 - an EMD SD90MAC rebuild. It utilizes the NLW MP350C3A-T4 prime mover
producing 5,500HP.
Norwalk Locomotive Works (NLW), NLW MP55CACWH-T4, NLWX #5507, Demo Unit No. 7 - Credit to Michael Eby for the original EMD SD90MAC drawing.
The unit is equipped with an advanced shock-absorbent cab that is also isolated. Another way AI can be used for railroading is Model Railroading. It’s very useful and is easier to use rather than searching online for countless hours, I also suggest checking with the Model Railroader Magazine forum members on the Trains Magazine Forum in the Model Railroader category. Overall, AI can be used for many things, even railroading! Yes, AI has its limitations, but it will work out for what ever you need it for, AI can also search the web for more correct information to better suit your needs, I would recommend using ChatGPT since its the only known AI at the moment that can give a thorough web search in less than 5 minutes with the most accurate information. GabeTehGameh
Let me know on how this ‘Article’ is!
