Western Railroad Discussion > UP Precision Train Builder and Virtual Ride Along

Reading about the derailment in Kelso I am wondering if UP still makes use of these
"important pieces of tech in the OPCC toolbox".

Precision Train Builder "harnesses the physics associated with trains and train operation".

Virtual Ride Along "is used to monitor thousands of UP trains ....using live inward and outward facing
camera feeds and access to PTC feeds and event recorder data".

180 loaded cars on 2+ percent grade might warrant some watching.

If an RFE was riding the train that ran away he would be in deep trouble.
Does the same apply if he is on a Virtual Ride Along?

How long before someone makes a CGI animation of the crash like they do with airplanes and other events? I'm really interested in seeing the data from this crash. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/23 07:19 by engineco16.

Englewood Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Reading about the derailment in Kelso I am
> wondering if UP still makes use of these
> "important pieces of tech in the OPCC toolbox".
>
> Precision Train Builder "harnesses the physics
> associated with trains and train operation".
>
> Virtual Ride Along "is used to monitor thousands
> of UP trains ....using live inward and outward
> facing
> camera feeds and access to PTC feeds and event
> recorder data".
>
> 180 loaded cars on 2+ percent grade might warrant
> some watching.
>
> If an RFE was riding the train that ran away he
> would be in deep trouble.
> Does the same apply if he is on a Virtual Ride
> Along?

154 cars, almost 22,000 tons when it arrived Lost Wages.

Usually runs 2X1X2 from Utah to Yermo and supposed to be all AC units. Runs with more power west of Yermo, on the BNSF, per their rules.

Someone in Omaha can't understand why BNSF requires more locomotives, on that ore train, over their railroad. "It goes over Cima Hill just fine 2X1X2" until it didn't.


Allen

Posted from Android



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/23 09:24 by bradleymckay.

engineco16 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How long before someone makes a CGI animation of
> the crash like they do with airplanes and other
> events? I'm really interested in seeing the data
> from this crash. 

If the NTSB is involved in the investigation the odds are pretty high. They like using animations because it makes it easier for the "untrained" folks to understand what was going on.

What bothers me is that the train does not pencil out under UP's own rules! That 2X2X1 is so reliant on the use
of air that any brake failure is going to turn into just what we saw. To completely control the downhill speed in 
case of an air failure would take 15 units. The 9 that's run on the other side of Yermo would bring the train down
at somewhere around 35-40 mph but at least not running away. 2X2X1 mid hill with a total air failure wouldn't
stand a chance. I'd bet the STB would agree.

Out 

To see how a once serious railroad handled death defying grade operation
search youtube for
Southern Railway- Saluda Grade Training Video
or
copy and paste this link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IABM8UPplY

Looks like that takes too many employees for modern day operation.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/23 12:09 by Englewood.

Just a note... There are no more RFE's on the Union Pacific. They were called MOP's in the day (Manager of Operating Practices), but that position has been eliminated. There is a small group in Omaha that will contact you if needed, they are not called MOP's.

sp3204 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just a note... There are no more RFE's on the
> Union Pacific. They were called MOP's in the day
> (Manager of Operating Practices), but that
> position has been eliminated. There is a small
> group in Omaha that will contact you if needed,
> they are not called MOP's.

What do they now call the group that does what an RFE would do?
Those that supervise, instruct, qualify, locomotive engineers.
Or is any of the above done anymore, replaced by pencil whipping
federally required forms?
Or is that also done by remote control from Omaha?

There really isn’t a position that “manages” engineers anymore.
They have MRO’s who spend 99% of their time doing Train Master/MTO work. Nobody gives a shit, unless shit hits the fan. 🤷‍♂️

Regards

Posted from iPhone

Drknow is correct in his statement. My Son works out of a major terminal that has a simulator in it. I have been on it a number of times when I was working with a MOP. He would set up the machine with its state of the art 1970's graphics for your district and you would do your 50 miles, I believe which is FRA mandated as the minimum check ride. Now it's done remotely from Omaha with the local engineer turning on the machine with the instructions in the booth. The last time, more than a year ago, he was sitting in the chair with the simulator running. At some point the speaker came alive with the person in Omaha starting to give him instructions. He told me it got almost silent at one point and he put his ear right up to the speaker to try and hear the insructor. That is when he heard the instructor doing an order at a drive through at a McDonalds theoretically in the Omaha area. This is what PSR and all of the cuts has come too. He also keeps getting students on his job, they basically know nothing out of class. He and his Brother, a Conductor that gets these students figure they get about 1/3 of the training that they received when they hired out 20 years ago.

sp3204 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Drknow is correct in his statement. My Son works
> out of a major terminal that has a simulator in
> it. I have been on it a number of times when I was
> working with a MOP. He would set up the machine
> with its state of the art 1970's graphics for your
> district and you would do your 50 miles, I believe
> which is FRA mandated as the minimum check ride.
> Now it's done remotely from Omaha with the local
> engineer turning on the machine with the
> instructions in the booth. The last time, more
> than a year ago, he was sitting in the chair with
> the simulator running. At some point the speaker
> came alive with the person in Omaha starting to
> give him instructions. He told me it got almost
> silent at one point and he put his ear right up to
> the speaker to try and hear the insructor. That is
> when he heard the instructor doing an order at a
> drive through at a McDonalds theoretically in the
> Omaha area. This is what PSR and all of the cuts
> has come too. He also keeps getting students on
> his job, they basically know nothing out of class.
> He and his Brother, a Conductor that gets these
> students figure they get about 1/3 of the training
> that they received when they hired out 20 years
> ago.

But remember that the training the new hires get now is:

Super
High
Intensity
Training

It’s all the rage at the Class Ones.

Regards

Posted from iPhone

I figured as much as things were almost totally destroyed before I retired.

No more guys like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aglNP5jGf8   (copy and paste)

From the time when there would be hell to pay for the Super on down if there was
a derailment caused by man failure.

The guys who knew their men and would have the caller or chief notify them
if certain people were called for a "widow maker".  That crew could expect a real ride along
or a real test.