the_traveler
Engineer
I was NOT calling you an idiot! I was explaining the procedure to the many members and guests who may your reply and think that backing up a train is as simple as backing up a car after missing someonee's driveway. They do not have to call the state DOT to back up on the road! Many non-rail fans and first time riders are not aware what has to be done.henryj said:1339434898[/url]' post='373010']Thanks for the 'idiot treatment', but I am not your idiot.the_traveler said:1339429931[/url]' post='372991']Do you know what is involved in backing up a train?henryj said:1339424580[/url]' post='372967']If they were going to do something like that they may as well just backed up to the stationIt's not just putting it in reverse and going backwards!
You have to contact the dispatcher to request permission to do a backup move (remember other trains use that same track also), then you must position the conductor at the rear door of the train to watch for any dangers and to tell the locomotive engineer when to sound the horn for any grade crossings or other reasons. And at night it's much harder to see obstacles then it is in the daytime, and the EB is not exactly a short train!
It's one thing to back up 10 feet at a station. It's totally different to back up 2 miles on a heavily used mainline!
How many times have we had a reply saying "Why didn't the train swerve (to miss the person/car/truck/etc)?
Please don't take it personally!