Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Anyone? Could have active Positive Train Control avoided this incident?
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Anyone? Could have active Positive Train Control avoided this incident?
No. PTC only enforces speed limits and stopping. No technology exists to scan the track ahead for obstructions in front of a train, though in the UK (probably elsewhere too) there is technology to automatically radar scan grade crossings to ensure they are clear. That wouldn't have helped here though.
Mind you, there are rock slide fences (in the US) which automatically drop a signal or light some other indication trackside that a slide has been detected. But they're only installed in vulnerable areas due to cost.
Initial reports were saying this was a "freak accident".
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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IIRC there are rock fences with alerters. If the fence gets broken, a short circuit causes a forced RED several blocks back, and in CTC territory alerts dispatchers.
Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Anyone? Could have active Positive Train Control avoided this incident?
I think Mr. Norman posted that with his tongue planted firmly against his cheek. Might be interesting, though, to see which congress critters and other Amtrak bashers use this accident to fault Amtrak for not having PTC installed up there in the woods of the Green Mountain state.
Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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But Mike's point is well taken regarding the reaction that some "critter" will soon trumpet.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Impossible to state with any certainty at this point which group that would fall into - if any. You have the extreme possibilities of (a) huge boulder falls onto track a second before the train comes (neither group); (z) routine trackside inspections that could have foreseen it canceled so the danger was missed (2nd group). And everything in between.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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