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From: sef@drutx.UUCP (FarleighSE)
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: Re: VIA rail train collides head-on with freight.
Message-ID: <576@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Feb-86 18:16:16 EST
Article-I.D.: drutx.576
Posted: Thu Feb 13 18:16:16 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Feb-86 01:44:46 EST
References: <6389@utzoo.UUCP>, <675@hlwpc.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 27

>Engines have "dead-man" controls.  I know that the E- and F-unit diesels
>had foot pedals that the engineer had to keep depressed continuously.
>If the engineer let up on the pedal, emergency brakes would be applied.
>I'm not sure the pedal system is in use today, but some variation is.
>On GO Transit in your neck of the woods, for example, the engineer has
>to be in contact with some part of the controls regularly (the throttle
>or brake lever, for example).  If he/she hasn't touched the controls
>for 30 seconds, an alarm buzzes in the cab, telling him/her to touch the
>controls at least briefly to confirm that he/she is still alive.  If
>no contact is made, on go the brakes!
>
>Carl Blesch
>

Burlington Northern removed their Deadman controls a number of years
ago.  It seems that the Engineers were overriding the system (putting
a brick on the pedal?).  So the management of BN (means Better'n
Nothin') decided to remove the Deadmans throttle altogether.
About two years ago one of the many BN wreaks could have been avoided
if the Deadman's throttle was installed and used.  It seems that instead
of BN's management addressing the problem of their many times stoned
crew defeating the saftey device they opt'ed to remove the saftey
device.

Scott E. Farleigh
AT&TIS