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The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) has found a novel use for Wi-Fi. It has started using the wireless networking technology to control trains remotely. BNSF locomotives carry freight across the continental US. However, it is using wireless technology to move units around its rail yards. It reckons the system is more efficient - presumably one driver can run multiple locos from the same seat in the yard control centre - and a darn sight safer than putting drivers inside the engines, the Fort Worth, Texas-based company claims. Instead, they operate a control panel that mirrors what they'd see if they were sitting in the cab. Their instructions are relayed to each loco via the "industrial strength" WLAN. "You can even blow the horn," says BNSF CIO Jeff Campbell in a throwaway line included in an interview with Computerworld concerning the company's dealings with cellular providers. Beat that, Hornby. ® :-lol(from theregister.co.uk)
RE: US railroad uses Wi-Fi to run 'driverless' trains
>> "and a darn sight safer than putting drivers inside the engines,"<<Safer than an engine with a driver!!!??? Thats a crock of feces.For reference visit the NTSB website and read many reports about remote control yard engine accidents.
Regards, Vince Cockeram NEC Track Team Author of the NECv4 Route
RE: US railroad uses Wi-Fi to run 'driverless' trains
I really don't have a horse in the RC/wireless control VS manned locos race but this..."presumably one driver can run multiple locos from the same seat in the yard control centre - and a darn sight safer than putting drivers inside the engines, the Fort Worth, Texas-based company claims." Let's see a guy sitting in an office running multiple locomotives with,what is for all intents and purposes, industrial strength MSTS is safer than a man in the cab,that if the $*** starts to go bad can physicaly reach down and throw a brake lever.Unmanned might be cheaper and better for the bottom line and maybe just as safe (sorry I just don't buy the "It's safer") but I really wish these PR hacks would quit peeing down the back of our legs and trying to tell us that it's rain Gary S
"Some say this country's just out for a fight. After 9/11 man I'd have to say thats right" "Have You Forgotten" Darryl Worley
RE: US railroad uses Wi-Fi to run 'driverless' trains
LAST EDITED ON Nov-23-03 AT 08:32 PM (EST)
It is just more examples of how places are using technoligy to eliminate jobs. Preatty soon they will be no jobs asa everything would be ran by robots.
Chris Knight All signature nodes are currently busy. Please try again later.
RE: US railroad uses Wi-Fi to run 'driverless' trains
BNSF is CONTINUALLY covering up derailments in the yards that use the Radio-control. Case in point: At Galesburg Railroad Days, early Monday morning, they turned over several cars near the passenger station. Two were hazmats. Reason: Loss of signal in the radio-control apparatus. Railroads "official" reason: wide gauge. Crew reported loss of signal to the officials, AND the reporters....BNSF would NOT allow the story to run. radio contro is going to get a bunch of people maimed or killed.
Kelley D. Ellison OK, CBPRA is gone...are you happy now? CSX A-Line Chief lighting engineer NALW Lighting engineer Dekosoft Lighting engineer
RE: US railroad uses Wi-Fi to run 'driverless' trains
>radio contro is going to get a bunch of people maimed or killed.Yes, but it'll save money, which is all big corporations seem to care about.Jonathan Nikiforovs. Milepost 180, CP Belleville Sub.Repainter for Yonder Locomotive Works.
"A crictic is a man who creates nothing and thereby feels qualified to judge the work of creative men. There is logic in this; he is unbiased - he hates all creative people equally." - Lazarus Long
