Drivers! a minute of your time please.

[The 158 Man]

http://anoraksia.ukgeeks.co.uk/p46992611.html

They've even painted the horn lever!

 

[Vulcan]

Dave, the distance between the rear bulkhead and the windscreens is different in the two cabs on a class 66 - it is much less at the cooler group end (no.2 end) than it is at the clean air end (no.1 end).

Drop me a pm and i may be able to help you out with some bits and pieces on that.

re: your design spec, i think you've tried to cover both units and locos with one spec, and whilst cab construction, crash worthiness, environmental issues, etc., are much the same, the dials you'll find in each are not. Your spec seems to lean towards a unit cab rather than a loco cab and i still don't think there is any need for a rev counter, oil pressure or engine temperature gauges - these just give the driver more data to get worried about!! That said, on both the class 66 and 70, this data is available, but only by going through various options on the loco computer - it isn't shown by default on any gauge or display. All locos have traditionally had a hot plate, units don't as unit drivers tend to be in their cabs for considerably shorter periods than those of us who work on locos. That said, the class 70 has neither a hot plate or a microwave. No loco has ever had a cool box or fridge to the best of my knowledge, not in the UK anyway. Other than those minor points, i think you're pretty close to the mark with your spec, and i'd be happy to spend some time fine-tuning it with you if you wish.

Hi,

I did actually already know that about the differing sizes of 66 cabs, but I had a tempory loss of memory about it when I posted the question. The dimensions needed would be for the shorter cab at the radiator end, as I presume the longer cab is actually the same layout, but with more space between the door and the seats?

I was thinking this would be mainly a concept for a locomotive, but I thought I could also show a smaller version of the proposal designed for a unit, using the same ideas, as an extra for the project.
Hence the reason for the 66 dimensions, as i'm not concerned with the rest of the loco too much, using the same dimensions as a 66 would be an easy way to make it realistic without trying to work out sizes of components and all that.

The three final bullets are very much a 'maybe'. I have seen a fridge as an extra on a foreign loco (Euro 4000? - looked like a 67 on steroids) But what are drivers' opinion on which they would have use for or prefer?

Rev counter and all that could be on an engine management display, but if you feel there is no need for it then maybe i'll leave it out. My thought was it'd be used to see if the engine is working properly, but really the computer system should be able to bring up an error message if there was something wrong, as you say giving the driver less to worry about.

 

[driver9000]

what is DRA equipment?

The DRA is the Drivers Reminder Appliance, which is either a push/pull button or a rotary switch on the desk which illuminates red when operated. Its purpose is to remind the driver their train is stood at a red signal or has passed a yellow aspect and has stopped in a station where the next signal is out of view. When the DRA is on the driver is unable to take power.

 

[GB]

Has anyone ever thought of installing a built in fax machine in the cab that can connect via 3G? That would be so useful in places such as engineering sites or when wagons have to be removed ad hoc due to a defect etc etc.

As for the DRA, as someone has said, it stands for driver reminder appliance. It is used for passenger trains where the platform starting signal is at danger or is *not visable. when enabled it stops the driver drawing power and acts to remind the driver to check the signal to avoid possible spads after completing station duties.

*if the preceeding signal is single yellow*

 

[Vulcan]

Thanks for the info on DRA,

as for a fax machine, it would be annoying if it were to run out of paper or ink and was needed to relay a message. I could put a digital message thing in my design if you feel it would be of use?

 

[driver9000]

I dont think a fax would be of any benefit as the driver could be issued with a PDA/Blackberry device to enable emails to be sent, although they would need to be switched off while driving as mobile phones etc are prohibited.

 

[GB]

Blackberrys would be nice! doubt the company would pay for them though unless your a "manager":roll:

We have all just been issued with DELL Inspiron 9 netbooks and they are about as useful several holes in the head. Cant do anything with them what so ever!

Anyway, the fax idea was for those times where the loco would be in possessions to enable the tops list to be faxed over instead of doing it by hand over the phone...often which it is difficult to hear. Also those times where preping a train in the middle of no where with no access to a fax machine. Obviously no applicable to passenger trains but certainly locos like GBRf/FL/DBS 66's that often work within the scenarios pointed out above.