CSX using Man Down system

[INDY72]

Was monitoring late last night here in Indianapolis, and heard on the Ind Belt chans, an "Man Down" alert. Never heard that before, so apparently the radios they run make use of the Man Down features that Public Safety radios have. Heard tones, followed by "CSX ( pair of numbers, like ch numbers or RID?) Operator 2, down. Operator 2 down." Most interesting.

 

[AK9R]

That feature has been used at Avon Yard, and I assume other car switching locations, pretty much ever since they started using remote control locomotives.

The announcement is generated by the remote control loco when it detects that the manpack that the operator uses to run the locomotive is not in the proper orientation.

If you see a CSX locomotive with a flashing orange beacon on the cab roof, that locomotive is being remotely controlled. IOW, there's no engineer in the cab.

 

[KB3KBR]

That feature has been used at Avon Yard, and I assume other car switching locations, pretty much ever since they started using remote control locomotives.

The announcement is generated by the remote control loco when it detects that the manpack that the operator uses to run the locomotive is not in the proper orientation.

If you see a CSX locomotive with a flashing orange beacon on the cab roof, that locomotive is being remotely controlled. IOW, there's no engineer in the cab.

the loco makes the announcement? neat. does it show any other indication like a flashing red light or anything?

 

[AK9R]

does it show any other indication like a flashing red light or anything?

As far as I know, no. The announcement goes out over a yard channel. At Avon, you can hear it on the channel that the pullers use since that's the assignment where the remote control locos are mostly used. Hawthorne Yard typically uses one of the old Belt channels for switching, so I'm not surprised the announcement was heard there.

 

[INDY72]

I do believe that there is an emergency stop implemented automatically like when an manned locomotive fails to have the "dead man pedal" pressed.

 

[NS9710]

you will hear this announcement when new crew men take over to test so if he's riding the cut in under remote control, if he is knocked down/falls off the train, an announcement like "C S X T Eight Two Five Six, Operator A is down, Operator A is down" as an example.

 

[AK9R]

"C S X T Eight Two Five Six, Operator A is down, Operator A is down"

That's exactly what I've heard on the puller channel at Avon Yard. CSXT8256, in your example, is the locomotive number, as I recall.

 

[NS9710]

That's exactly what I've heard on the puller channel at Avon Yard. CSXT8256, in your example, is the locomotive number, as I recall.

Well, I was using that number as an example, but that's just a safety precaution to make sure the remote guy doesn't get injured or worse while running RCL

 

[burner50]

That's a feature of remote controlled locomotives that is required by law. It's required to be tested to ensure proper functionality every time a link is established or a chest pack is transferred. Anytime the chest pack isn't vertical it counts down a VERY short timer (six seconds if I recall) then engages the man down process involving idling the locomotive and applying brakes. There's more to it than that, but it's been 7 years since I left the railroad, and a few years before that since I had worked a remote job.

 

[madrabbitt]

i've heard it on a yard channel at BNSF's largest yard, but wasnt near the remote operation area to see what the loco actually did.
Makes sense though, you'd want a remote operated train to have the same or better failsafes as an in cab operated one.