Questions for engineers

I would like to see a new topic called "Questions for Engineers". Hopefully locomotive engineers will answer questions from non-railroad types such as myself. And is this the proper forum to place such a topic?

What did you want to know, Bob ?

Since I live in Delaware, my questions will deal mostly with the NEC and passenger operations.

Thanks in advance to all that answer.

Ask away, someone will pipe up with an answer! BTW Arm love the quote first heard that in a story about the Omaha road. Isn't it so true.

Certainly been true, on every class 1 I haved worked for, the class 2 roads as well!!!

How do engineers on the NEC know what the track speed is? Do they have something in the cab that gives them an indication of the speed limit?

yes there is a signal display unit in the cab that shows the track speed, as well as the signal that you have. The engineer also needs to know the territory that he/she works in and they need to know when the speed increases on the track or decreases, they can't just rely on the cab display unit

Engineers and conductor are issued and must carry a copy of the Division Timetable on which they operate. The time table includes max. speeds permitted, permanet speed restrictions and were they are located. This is part of being qualified on the territory.

As well as the Timetable, and Special Instructions, there is also a Daily Bulletin, with temporary speed restrictions, and other other info, and some roads also have a weekly bulletin, in conjunction with a daily. An average engineer will have to read, process and follow the instructions, on literally tens of thousands of pages of bulletins, in any given year, on a "big" railroad. That's the side of the job, the buffs just don't seem to understand. It's not just highballin' and waving to the fans.......

I thought there was more to being an engineer than just running the locomotive. There is and always will be PAPER WORK. A large company or the government cannot survive without it.