4449 modernised

[Teditor]

Southern Pacifics GS-4 4449 has I assume some modern updates incorporated, can anyone advise what may have been incorporated to make it a functional locomotive in this day and age, ie; safety related installations, temperature sensors, etc.
Ted (Teditor) Freeman

[learmoia]

FRA Boiler inspection, Oil, Water and a Radio.. 

[Hawghead]

When I was in the cab of the 4449 she was still in the old Brooklyn roundhouse, but other than a radio, there wasn't anything in there that she wasn't originally built with.

Scott

[learmoia]

Carbon capture system
water purification
waste water retention tanks
Bathroom
Breast feeding room
Safety chains and reflectorization
Air conditioning

Warning labels that say
Caution Hot Surface
Do not lube rods will engine is in motion..
Water Level warning bells

I think Steam has a very thorough training program so you can get away with running without the idiot proofing that is needed nowadays.

One of the semi serious discussions has been, how do we do breast feeding stations for train crew.. (required in a work area and has to be a dedicated private room and not a bathroom..)

~Ian

[nkalanaga]

For locomotive crew, probably not a problem, as I doubt that OSHA would allow infants in a locomotive cab.

For a passenger car, it shouldn't be a problem, especially in a former sleeper or baggage car.  The sleeper already has rooms, and it wouldn't be hard to build one in a baggage car.

For a crew coach, convert one of the restrooms.  The crew should be able to share a unisex toilet, one person at a time, and the other one, with the toilet replaced with a seat, would have everything needed.

[Night Owl City]

I think it would be for working nursing mother to use a breast pump, rather then feeding an infant.

[Teditor]

I appreciate the humour, when I was an engineman in New South Wales in Australia in the 1960-70's, our crack 200ton plus 38 class 4-6-2 was often run at 70mph, hand fired and no speedo, it was the drivers feel and knowledge along with his fob watch that was the speedometer.

In this day and age, I am sure there would be requirements beyond what was needed when steam was common.

I was thinking along the lines of communication, temperature sensors, water treatment etc and any gauges/controls applicable.

Ted (Teditor) Freeman

[learmoia]

I think it would be for working nursing mother to use a breast pump, rather then feeding an infant.

Right, but you still need to offer a private sanitary nursing room to do it.
Can't just whip em out and do it in the cab of the lead loco... Well you can..but.... that's not what the law says.

[learmoia]

I appreciate the humour, when I was an engineman in New South Wales in Australia in the 1960-70's, our crack 200ton plus 38 class 4-6-2 was often run at 70mph, hand fired and no speedo, it was the drivers feel and knowledge along with his fob watch that was the speedometer.

In this day and age, I am sure there would be requirements beyond what was needed when steam was common.

I was thinking along the lines of communication, temperature sensors, water treatment etc and any gauges/controls applicable.

Ted (Teditor) Freeman

I think some of the locos do have temp sensors on the bearings... Another thing to consider, is that steam locos in the US consistently trip hot box detectors on axle 1 and 2 from the steam going to the pistons.

~Ian