I have a dumb question. Does the engineer in the lead locomotive have engine information (rpm, temperature, other engine condition data) on all of the trailing locomotives? Thanks
No, there is an alarm that is trainlined but all that tells him is that something is wrong, not what the problem is.
I may be wrong, but dont some of the new units tell you in detail what is wrong?
Computer ‘errors’ reported by today’s computerized locomotives are similar to the error codes that IBM software report…they tell you something is wrong, but you still have to read through a dozen other manuals to figure out exactly what!
The engineer only has access to this information if the locomotive it equipped with a multi-function display. Even then, it’s on a sub menu, that’s not normally displayed. Only the information for the lead unit is shown. Any issues with the trailing units, ring a bell in the lead unit, and the engineer has to go back the trailing unit to assess the problem.
On older locomotives with analog gauges or early multi-function displays, the only engine gauge is the Amp meter. Any problems with the engine are indicated by a bell and trouble light.
Nick
So a crew of one: Trouble on the 2nd engine. He has to go back to check and ???
(whose watching the track?)
Moo?
The only time a lone engineer can leave the cab is when the train has been brought to a complete stop. Even then he may be required to tie down the train i.e.set the air and engine hand brake. The excemption is if he chooses to jump due to an impending collision.
Madame La Mook asked a good question- and I guess the answer is that the train has to be stopped before an engineer can go back and check to see which unit is malfunctioning. Or does the unit cut itself out of the power loop automatically?
Or is the conductor trained to go back and try to diagnose the problem? If so, does the train have to be stopped or can they actually move outside the cabs while the train is on the move?
I also wonder what an engineer looks for when a unit cuts out on the run. I don’t have the foggiest idea what one would look for if you can’t leave the cab… personally, I’d make sure the rest of the train was still there and it wasn’t on fire. (If it was on fire, how could one tell if the car in question is 40 or 50 cars back?)
Erik
If you have a good conductor, usually they’ll go back and take a look. If not either he’ll run or we’ll call the DS and go into the hole, and I’ll take a look at it
I can go into the computer on the newer engines and generally figure out what’s wrong. Then I’ll call the DS abd ask to talk to the diesel doctor. When he comes on I’ll either tell him what the fault code is or what the unit is doing. Sometimes it’s as easy as flipping a circuit breaker, sometimes it’s not (I blew a piston out of the side of an SD70M demostrator!!!).
Unfortunately, most conductors I know, unless they are busted back engineers, haven’t a clue about engines. So the engineer safely stops the train, leaves the conductor to watch the headend, and goes back to see whats wrong. The power help desk is usually useless too. So unless you have an experianced engineer, you’re usually SOL if something happens line of road.
Nick