 |
Re: SMART One person crews
Author: Dr Zarkoff
Date: 09-24-2017 - 16:46
> If they went to one person would the trains have to be modified to allow doors to opened by the engineer?
Some operations have already doing this for years (Sounder, VRE possibly, etc.). If you ever get the chance to look at a desktop in one of the second group of CDTX F-59s, there is a rectangular plate over to the right of the brake valve which covers the opening meant for these controls. Caltrans never intended to purchase the controls (and didn't). The reason for the cover plate is that the locomotives were an add-on to an existing order which did. It was far cheaper (and faster) to cover the holes than re-engineer the control stand to leave out the opening (has to do with the red tape of the procurement process and the arm and leg the suppliers charge for design changes these days).
Some operations have already doing this for years (Sounder, VRE possibly, etc.). If you ever get the chance to look at a desktop in one of the second group of CDTX F-59s, there is a rectangular plate over to the right of the brake valve which covers the opening meant for these controls. Caltrans never intended to purchase the controls (and didn't). The reason for the cover plate is that the locomotives were an add-on to an existing order which did. It was far cheaper (and faster) to cover the holes than re-engineer the control stand to leave out the opening (has to do with the red tape of the procurement process and the arm and leg the suppliers charge for design changes these days).
