New ES44DCs to have video cameras on hood

[CSX Conductor]

According to a new System Bulletin or Sytem Notice issued yesterday (8-3-05) all 100 new GE ES44DC locomotives will be outfitted with a video camera outside the cab near the engineer's windshield along with a microphone to capture unsafe motorist acts at highway grade crossings. I believe this was done on the UP before, not sure if it is still being practiced.

[Railjunkie]

I beleive NS has and uses the system but I remember reading the cameras and mics were inside the cab. They were not to be used for "spying" on the crew just for grade crossing incidents.

[blippo]

Yep, I was told by a Road Forman a few months ago this was used for grade xing accidents. I first discovered these motors had them by looking in the panel behind the engineer. In the panel, it had a breaker marked, "Video"

[n2xjk]

How many ES44DC's does CSX have online so far? Are they going to be primarily in one territory, or will we see them thoughout the system?

[charlie6017]

How many ES44DC's does CSX have online so far?

According to the "Bullsheet", none as of yet. And they keep it pretty up to date.

[roadster]

I've been on a couple NS loco's which had the camera mounted inside the cab, just to the right of the center post of the windsheild of the new GE's

[CSX Conductor]

So near where the cab signal display is?

[Guest]

Yep, the NS has RailView cameras in most of the widebodies. The microphone is outside to record the bell and horn. The camera is in sync with the event recorder. Some guys don't like them because they think the company is spying on them, but it has already saved my arse once. My train (I'm a conductor) hit a truck at a grade crossing, killed the driver.

The family and the trucking company filed a lawsuit against the NS, me and the engineer. The suit was dropped however, when the NS produced the recording. The video clearly demonstrated we did everything right. We were underspeed, blowing the horn and ringing the bell. The camera also clearly showed the crossing lights flashing. The event recorder shows the engineer and I throwing the train into emergency at almost the same instant.

In the end, the trucking company actually had to pay the NS for damages.

-r

[Guest]

So near where the cab signal display is?

Yep, on the hog's side.

-r

[TheChessieCatLives]

The ES40DC, the ES44AC, and the ES44DC are designed with freight hauling in mind. Same number of horsepower as the CW44ACs and the CW60ACs, but lower emissions. Now if and when CSX brings the ES44DC or the AC versions online, they will be placed all over the entire system. But a majority will probably be focused on the coalfields here in West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, and the Carolinas.

[CSX Conductor]

I think that your NS loco shot was upside-down when you scanned it, lol

[slchub]

Just remember that during the nightime hours, the video captures your reflection on the windshield when the overhead light is turned on.

[CSX Conductor]

Just remember that during the nightime hours, the video captures your reflection on the windshield when the overhead light is turned on.

So are you saying to leaving the pornos in your grip?!? lol

[Sam Damon]

And enough foamers would pay for it to make the scheme work.

Pity American railroads are so unimaginative.

[TheChessieCatLives]

I see enough near misses down here daily to expect it at each crossing. Those cameras would get a work out up here in WV.