Don
That missing link problem occured to me. Obviously their can be a fail safe-a break in the wire sets the brakes-but a high level of reliability would be needed. Further, if the system becomes used on everything there is the extra step of hooking up the signal wire along with the air hose on “loose car” train makeup.
Jay
I wonder if the introduction of ECP could improve the economics of the single carload market? Maybe the idea of dock to dock service for small customers can be revived?
Tell me exactly how ECP optimizes dock-to-dock service when applied to normal cars? Even to the extent of recovering its system cost from increased profits?
Intermodal unit trains built for high speed or dedicated service would have electronic brake systems “by default” (almost certainly disc, and possibly air over hydraulic for the actuators, which gives easy antilock modulation without compromising the basic fail-safety of an air system) and would not depend upon consistent acceptance of a ‘standard’ for interchange ECP for their operation.
More simply: by the time you start considering the kinds of speed range where ECP gives substantial benefits and return-on-equity, you’re not using conventional three-piece undamped trucks or rod-actuated brake beams any more, and more to the point you won’t really be able to tolerate anything in that consist that has them, regardless of how sophisticated a method of modulating the actuating cylinder on a long brake linkage you may have.
If there is a future for dock-to-dock service for small customers, it likely involves intermodal exchange, on the order of a RailRunner system for containers or CargoSpeed for trailers. I’d expect these to be purpose-built, or permanent adaptations of existing equipment, and certainly not something running in ‘general’ or unscheduled interchange service…
There are situations where it would be more efficient for manifests/mainline freights to perform drop off and pick up activities while enroute from terminal to terminal, rather than having small carloads rerouted and backtracked via the local or switch crew. If a certain amount of dock to dock (or siding to siding, if you prefer) can be performed with the time frames reduced via implementation of ECP, why not, especially if it results in more business?