Re: An Engineer's Comments (His Language, NOT mine)

From a retired Lehigh Valley / Conrail engineer
BobHuddleston Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> 1) When operating a Burlington Northern diesel at
> night in Davenport, Iowa run with your light on!!
Very good advice...


> 2) When approaching an automotive crossing with
> only flashing lights, toot your frigg'in horn!!
All well and good..assuming the town has not passed laws PROHIBITING the engineer from sounding his horn. Many towns through which I used to run FORBID the train from using the horn!
>
> 3) Obey the 20 mph speed limit in an urban area
> instead of doing 35 mph!!!

I can't say about the BN...but there was no urban speed limit on Conrail. I used to run freight trains at 50 mph right through the middle of towns and cities. Prior to Conrail, on the Lehigh Valley we ran piggyback trains at 60 right through towns.
>
> 4) By obeying the speed limit, it won't take 700
> yards to come to a stop when you hit a car
> broadside

Believe me...even at 20 mph....it takes a lot longer than 700 yards to stop a 12,000 unit coal train.

>
> 5) The company lawyers need to understand the word
> "no" when it comes to asking the victims to sign
> waviers
>
No argument here!
Keith