The various points about fatigue and quality time apply to industry also. For some years I was asst supt on the 1st shift of a 3 shift operation. I replaced the 2nd & 3rd shift supers when they vacationed. They each had 5 weeks. 2nd shift was not bad, but on 3rd I learned very early not to sit down even for lunch. I can only imagine what would happen if I was in control of a loco at 3 AM.
You nod off.
Then you wake up startled, wondering:
What happened when you were ‘out’?
Did you miss any crossings?
Did you hit anything?
Did you miss a signal?
How is the train slack?
It doesn’t help matters either when you look over the cab and see the conductor completely flamed out, leaning against the window snoring.
So much for the concept of “quiet cab” design.
If you go to Al Krug’s site there is a piece on mind set which, can also be very bad in a railroad related situation. You see a signal and think that it’s green… What?! the most permissive aspect that can show is a approach medium… Wow better wake up! Very funny about the quite cabs![(-D][(-D][(-D]