I’m on a simulation where I am taking a Z train from Chicago to Seatle and it is rather boring. In a lot of areas it is just grassland or farmers fields for miles and miles and miles. The locomotives become a catatonic and soon soothing roar and start to become sleepy. I can’t afford to sleep on the job though being that I’m going 70mph and sometimes have to keep a close I for limitedclear signals where I need to go at the most 40mph.
I don’t want to derail the train but if I do for some reason, no foul-just a game. However; what do the engineers do to keep awake and do they have any secrets or techniques for a proper cab ride simulation user?[:)]
I’m definitely not an expert but I guess if they snooze for 40 or so seconds an alarm goes off, then they press the alerter button. But they also drink coffee probably.
Keep the window open! When on a cabride many years ago, the enginner said its easy to fall asleep in one of the new Dash-9’s. He said in the middle of winter, he stays awake by keeping the window open. It doesn’t matter what loco it is, if staying awake is a problem, open the window all the way.
I know air force pilots use drugs which keep them awake. Maybe some train crews use these too?
They can also keep themselves busy-- chatting to other crew members, communicating with other trains, or the dispatcher. There is also often paperwork to do–which isn’t fun, but it might keep a conductor or engineer awake.
I don’t own any simulator programs either, but I do have a few demos, most notably Trainz Railroad Sim 2004. Trainz came out in November 2004, and is a pretty good game, judging by the demo-- I hope to buy it soon. Microsoft Train Sim is another good simulator. Although is came out several years ago, it apparently is still very popular. You can go to a gaming site like www.gamespot.com to find more info on these games.
Isn’t there something about a bucket of ice water in the current contract negotiations?
Otherwise do like I do when I am driving my car. Pull off the road and take a short nap.
Auran Trainz. Very cool just make sure you exceed the minimum requirements for the game. Pentium 4 with 128 mg video card, 256 mg memory or better with over a gig processor is recommended. If you go on the Trainz website (I just type in “trainz” on the yahoo search), it will give you alot of different versions and lots of help on the site and especially on their forum.
The engineer running his train at 70 MPH has much less a problem than the local engineer & conductor on the 25 MPH branch line, rocking along the jointed rail right of way, blinded by the sun being reflected off the recently fallen snow with the cab heater going…the slow rocking motions, the heat and the eye strain is a sure fire method of lullng even the most fully awake person into la la land.
Coffee, Cab windows open and active converstaion with other cab members are the only means available other than standing and sitting.
On CSX the rules provide for one crew member to nap up to 45 minutes while the train is stopped for an extended period of time. The remaining crew member must remain awake and monitor the 45 minute maximum nap. (Sometimes the 2nd crew member doesn’t comply with the rules.)
You should never really fall asleep if you are properly rested.
Of course with the hours train crews work and the time they have to rest, they are rarely properly rested.
Keep this in mind, if you are ever sitting in class and you are as BORED as can be, that’s one thing, but no matter how bored you are, you won’t fall asleep unless you are sleep deprived.
Boredom doesn’t lead to falling asleep, but being sleep deprived does.
If you are as bored as ever, but properly rested, you won’t get tired.
I used the all the above solutions to stay awake and if you saw a bunch of smoke coming at you from a clean diesel that was not a steam loco pushing, it was me chain smoking. I sometimes used to nibble on hot peppers and would intentionally give myself heartburn. That would keep me miserably awake will I rambled on the radio to other trains, block operators, and dispatchers. And not so much to disagree with Macguy but; I can fall asleep even when well rested if I am bored. [2c]
The engineer isn’t really sitting there all that time anyway. Except for portions of west, there are a LOT of grade crossings he is blowing for, plus changing the throttle to adjust for grades and speed restrictions, and the crew is supposed to be calling the indication of every signal. There is a lot more to running a train than just sitting down, notching it back and riding.
Start up a conversation, if the conductor & engineer can tell a few jokes, talk about fishing or sports. I used to eat sunflower seeds, it is messy but better than smoking. Call all your signals & slow orders out loudly. Make sure you tell the other person on the engine you are having a problem staying awake. Make some coffee or tea, eat a sandwich or cookies, open the window, turn on the light, walk around. If you stop for a meet or a stop signal get outside & get some fresh air. Daybreak is the worst time.
well… when i ran the road…and i was dead on my ***…it wasnt uncommon for me to open the window in the middle of winter and use the cold to try and keep me awake…i also use to smoke like a chimey to stay awake…but i gave that habbit up for chew…(wife use to complain about somke in the house…now she complains about my spitoons…lol guess i just cant win!!) …i also sometimes would run standing up… insted of sitting down in the seat… i also drank at least 2 to 3 20 oz moutian dews on a night time run…and i have spashed cold water on my face when all else fails…but they usely hold you at enough places just long enough to take a power nap and recharge your battiers long enough to get to the next hold point for another nap…but the railroad has a nasty habbit of when you are draggin and need a break from running…they run the wheels off of you and give you all greens… but when your wide awake and want to go go go…they hold you eveywhere that is possable…but running on a computer is nowhere near running for real…untill they make a slack action seat…you will never get the true experiance of running an engin…
csx engineer
Jeaton, we have the same napping rule on the Canadian Pacific. Sometimes a quick nap while on a siding is all it takes to feel refreshed. Decent dispatchers will notice your train not moving after posting a clear signal and will give you a call. They know and usually keep it cool over the radio. The sleep deprivation can get pretty bad during busy times. Remember that although trainmen are required to get 8 hours rest, the rest starts when you tie up the train and end when you return to work. In that period is a two hour wake up call and your drive time to and from work. Four to Five hours of sleep is more realistic, less if you want any time with your family.