Sooo...
If someone with mental issues jumps in front of a train, or a careless person blows a crossing and gets in the way, will this "new technology" bring the train to a safe stop and report the situation to the movement bureau? Or, will 204 also be eliminated as "unnecessary" to everyday operations also as a result to "streamline" operating costs to keep the budget within guidelines while the entire system spirals into further disregard for sane operations under human control? Oh no, we can't have that! People making field decisions on their own? Heaven forbid! Jeez, how did we get here over the last 171 years using "antiquated" train orders, A, K, C and S Cards, the attached manual block rules and special instructions and other gained experience that makes the LIRR unique? Well, the answer is to dumb it down even further like MNCR into a "Go-No Go" system controlled by electronics that serve well when they are working as intended! Oh well...... I guess the next posts will be how manual block territory is "archaic, past its time, and needs to be replaced" by PTC and its wonderful salvation to operating trains butt-to-butt to save time and money. Time will tell in the future in regards to cost and human lives. Oh! Don't forget that we can't sound the horn during specific hours of the day so as not to bother someone living too close to the right of way. I guess that could be written into the software, too.
Wheelslip! Back to the Barn.
MOTEL