Juppo Wrote:
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> Based on what I've learned from reading up on PTC
> it will reduce verbal radio communications and
> will reduce the human element of railroading even
> more. Less crew interaction with their machines
> and probably less crew members. Somehow a
> engineer reduced to a locomotive babysitter just
> doesn't seem very exciting and probably won't pan
> out well in photographs.
>
> In the last year I've seen BNSF and UP put up
> those ugly PTC antennas at crossovers and turnouts
> at an incredible rate. At least UP's are mounted
> atop a wooden pole but it still is very visually
> distracting at many locations I've seen. Coupled
> with aluminum and plastic hooded traffic light
> signals, I've seen many excellent photo locations
> totally ruined overnight. Sadly, in the next year
> or so, the only searchlights left in the Bay Area
> will be on the NWP, Caltrain and a handful of
> seldom used UP secondary lines.

All good reasons for your position. I'm with you.