GPS and Railroading

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

There is currently much ado about the railroad industry using GPS to monitor trains. One of these days they might even use GPS with added features to run the train.

I have noticed that the UP844’s GPS system seems to have a problem. It is currently reporting the 844 to still be south of Atlanta, Texas, however, the train left Hope, Arkansas, about 12:45.

Well that is only ONE state off. [;)] I certainly hope out military GPS systems work much better than that. [:D]

The 844 is scheduled to have a one day layover and display at North Little Rock on Thursday. Maybe by then the GPS system will catch up with the rest of the train. [:o)] [:D]

2

Jim, They said the GPS unit would be on one of the cars, perhaps that car got set out for some reason. Just a thought.

3

I was wondering the same thing why it is now 1:40 and it still shows the train in Atlanta, TX. The GPS has to still be on the train because it is still moving.

4

This was just posted on the UP web site: "Technical Difficulties
We are currently experiencing difficulties with our GPS antenna. Technicians are investigating the problem. 844 is currently en route to North Little Rock. We apologize for any inconvenience. "

5

Well William

When it gets here I will be down to see it. I will be wearing my bright orange shirt, can’t miss it. [:o)]

Zach will be there too, but so will half of Pulaski County. [:o)] [:D] [8D]

6

I know from my work experience here that GPS receivers require a special type of coax to get the EHF (extremely high frequency) satellite signals from the antenna to the receiver, and that the connection can be somewhat prone to trouble.

7

Hmm…the antenna eh? sounds more like the Transmitter, since they haven’t gotten updated Co-Ords since texas. You have to understand that they are using Bi-Directional GPS, that’s to say it will use a hi-power transmitter to upload the current co-Ords to a sattilite to be sent to a central computer on the ground to monitor it all.

Then again, if the antenna isn’t recieving, the Transmitter might be sending the texas co-ords. but that’s highly unlikely, as most GPS systems will stop if they lose sattilite signals and on bi-directionals, send an error message, not the last known Co-Ords.

8

Gee - and you have that huge multipath error emmitter/ steam kettle up front being passed by all those multipath creators of the diesel kind …plus bridges and trees and all those othe GPS line of sight headaches…ya think?[(-D][(-D][(-D]

9

MC-Whatdoyathink? Mandatory viewing for advocates of PTC using GPS:

Yul Bruner in Westworld. “…where nothing can possibly go wrogn”

10

I dunno what they need GPS for - any railfan in the area can tell them where they are! (And that they didn’t stay long enough…)

11

There were lots of false reports today.

(Including mine [:0] [B)] [8] That is what I get for trust modern day technology too much [;)] )

12

They need to go the same thing with the heritage units too! That way we know where they are at!

13

Positive Train Control is using GPS information to locate trains. I wonder what will happen in the event of war. The civilian GPS system will be turned off and a highly encoded military system will then be used so that GPS cannot be used by the enemy.

If PTC becomes more widespread in its use by railroads, it looks as though they will shut down the railroads in the time of war.

14

In time of war those trains will be considered military assets. Remember when every railroads could pick which of a hand full of steam designs they could chose from. No diesels cause we needed them for maritime shipping. In time of war they will still run and probably set new production records like they did last time.[2c] As always ENJOY P.S. the military version is a lot more accurate.

15

Never mind how much it will cost to retrofit military GPS into every road locomotive in the U.S. and Canada, do you have any idea how long it would take to accompli***he change-over?

16

Not every locomotive is equiped with these systems. They would move at first the same way they do now when there are glitches in the system. The old fashion way. If the PTC with GPS is deamed nessary they would be provided with decoders on an as needed basis when needed. [2c] As always ENJOY. P.S. The operative word is so it can not be used by the enemy.