amtrak-csx-trains-collide-in-south-carolina-injuries-reported

[up1950s]

Today the dispatcher could request a photo via IPhone . Being that the photo taking and sending is not being done while underway there is no risk of distraction . KISS

[peteski]

You're right, "conversation" can be construed as casual. Corrected to "exchange" to better reflect the formality.

While I understand your point of view, commercial pilots employ very official and dry type of communication with the control tower (equivalent to a conductor and dispatcher), similar to that what pedro describes, yet it doesn't seem to make them less diligent to make sure the information is true and accurate.  Sure, no human is perfect and there are mishaps and accidents, but considering the number of flights compared to the number of trains, the percentage of mishaps seems to be much lower than with trains.  Right charlie eight fiver fiver bravo?

[eric220]

I think one of the big differences between airline transmissions and the railroad transmissions that have been discussed is that the railroad transmissions seem more generic (“all switches aligned”) versus specific information that’s being conveyed by pilots and air traffic controllers (“turn right heading zero-four-zero and descend and maintain two five thousand”). A more direct comparison would be if the crew were required to state “turnout two five alingned and locked normal for the main.”

[Chris333]

Someone posted elsewhere that CSX is changing all their signals in my area over to rule 261. Whatever that is.
Some signals are all new and others just get new heads.

[wazzou]

Someone posted elsewhere that CSX is changing all their signals in my area over to rule 261. Whatever that is.
Some signals are all new and others just get new heads.

As mentioned earlier, in my area, the BNSF when they changed all of the signals on the Portland-Seattle main, they left the existing signals functionally in place while the heads were turned on the new ones unti implemented.

[nkalanaga]

Eric:  Verifying individual turnouts would be quite practical, with the dispatcher making a note (written or electronic) of each one on his copy of the track warrant.  To make it more certain, I'd also have the crew report each switch as they UNLOCKED it, so that the dispatcher's report would have both actions.  If he had one but not the other for a switch, he'd know there was a problem.  If the switch wasn't disturbed, there would be no action taken, and no notes.

Chris333:  This may not help, but rule 261 in the 1967 "Consolidated Code of Operating Rules", which was still in use in the early 70s in the Northwest says:

"261.  On portions of the railroad, and on designated tracks so specified in the timetable, trains will be governed by block signals, whose indications will supersede the superiority of trans for both opposing and following movements on the same track."

Rules 251 - 254 are for following movements in ABS territory, while 261 - 264 are for bidirectional movement on the same track under ABS rules. 

IF this is the same rule, it sounds like CSX has been operating double track as two single-direction tracks, and now plans on running trains in both directions on both tracks.

[Jbub]

I read this 'interesting and enlightening' article from the AP this morning. I guess it really doesn't matter who's at fault.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=46258301&nid=151

[John]

Maybe we should get rid of Amtrak ...

[nkalanaga]

Here is an editorial, from Railway Age magazine, that gives a detailed explanation of what rules and practices were in effect at the accident scene:

As I (Don't) Understand It, by David Schanoes
http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/blogs/david-schanoes/as-i-dont-understand-it.html?channel=00