One Man Train Crews is a bad idea

Janesville, Wisconsin
July 18, 2016 3:19pm CST
One Man Train crews are a bad idea, No technology we have now, Alerters, Positive train control, etc can function well enough to keep one man train crews safe. It is impossible for a one man train crew to protect back front and sides of train, watch for trespassers on the tracks and trains, watch the train for sticky smokey brakes, hotboxes, for a load shift issue with debris, and keep their eyes on the tracks, stay fully alert, and avoid railway hypnosis.. such as another wreck in Bronx NY. I been running a railroad news blog on and off for years.. and one man train crews have been a major issue in many recent train wrecks. Keep the Rails safe ban one manned train crews. Trains were built to have a group of people run and maintain them safely from point A to point B... and just because we have neat new technology does not mean we can depend on that to fully function and be safe to replace the human factor. Thinks of how many times a computer or tablet freezes or phone hangs up, or a wifi signal is dropped... I trust trains to be ran by a good skilled group of people that work together taking turns keeping each other alert. and keeping the railroad safe and the train safe from point A to point B. Also more than one crew member helps cut down on human error too, and positive train control and those.. I believe is good as a safety back up, but not as the main stopping tool... and replacement of the read and repeat method.. If you use positive train control it should even be more mandatory for two people one to read on the little tablet screen, and one to keep their eyes on the rails...
2 people like this
2 responses
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
18 Jul 16
That's like one man for too many jobs/ things to do.
1 person likes this
• Janesville, Wisconsin
18 Jul 16
To risky to risk it for cutting out other workers... In the old days they had the engineer, conductor, fireman, signalman, and a replacement crew in the abuse for emergencies... I understand fireman not being there anymore... But there is nothing wrong with two engineers at least.. or conductors.. but I personally think it should be at least 5 people..
1 person likes this
• Janesville, Wisconsin
20 Jul 16
@Daljinder Yep, cutting out the human factor and saving money.. corporations cutting corners.. never works well for anyone.
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
19 Jul 16
@dnatureofdtrain It's more about paying salaries to less people than safety
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
18 Jul 16
so right. when will they ever address this problem? when several terrible accidents happen I guess. its all about saving money instead of lives.
1 person likes this
• Janesville, Wisconsin
18 Jul 16
the only way is to get public pressure on the situation and for people who pay the railroads to haul people or items, they need to also flock to the railroads that are doing the most safest practices.. or question is my stuff being hauled by a one man train crew I do not want there.. people need to verbally voice it.. although they did make it mandatory for at least two in passenger railroading now, but not yet for all freight...