BOB2 says the Telegraph caused many accidents, yet he also says it was by human error or shorts. First, a computer or telegraph can only do what you program it to do, or how you key the telegraph pad. Human errors in telegraph or any technology, is the result of improper use or training- not the technology. A short, open or intermittant telegraph circuit would cause an incomplete, erratic or confused Morse-based message necessatating a re-send or no action situation, requiring deeper communication attempts. Only a complete idiot would act on a poorly transcribed or interpreted message, nevermind following the rules covering such an event.

If you thing PTS is the way to go, keep in mind that every layer of technology is expensive at first, continues to need time-consuming and expensive uprading, causes confusion when newer versions overlay older versions, and invariably needs trouble-shooting while everything comes to a standstill.

Time and time again, we still experience planes falling out of the sky, trains piling up and other things that go bump in the night. Is layered technology really as helpful as it's made out to be? If you have any doubt, please go to www.ironwoodtech.com and search false proceed. A wide variety of technological failures are presented in detail.

The carriers brought RSIA on themselves by having mediocre training, virtually no 'wash-outs' of students, and continuing to employee idiots that could help cause another Chatsworth manslaughter party with their indifference. The RSIA is little more than political grandstanding spurred along with typical knee-jerk politician energy, because the carriers will continue to use their strong lobbying tactics to water down any genuine attempts to rectify transportation safety and DOT compliance issues. It's far cheaper to lobby than it is to implement hardware.

Here's something you might not be aware of: the BNSF and the UP have MILES and MILES of dark territory where TWC is in effect. Complete reliance on: 1) The Dispatcher. 2) The crew. 3) Equipment and Track standards. That's it. That's all. No signals, no GPS, no PTC/PTS, nope, nothin' but the radio, the train, the track, the crew and the DS. With few, if any exceptions, any significant mishap has ultimately pointed to human failure, with equipment or track failure coming in second.

Idea: hire and retain only the best and the brightest, wash-out the rocks, and keep the system simple.

Pacset OUT.