3 ms·

I used to be a railway signalling guy. AMA

• bell-cot 1mo ago
  In what country? How much (if you know) do the details vary by country? If you were ever involved in a grade crossing fatality case, what was that like? (Professionally - not prying at your personal feelings. Answering optional.)
  • NuclearPM 1mo ago
    Canada Same system as US. Similar operating rules. Other countries have different rules including track gauges (width). Canada’s: https://tc.canada.ca/en/rail-transportation/rules/2022-2023/canadian-rail-operating-rules https://tc.canada.ca/en/rail-transportation/rules/2022-2023/... “Fun” fact, the rules were metaphorically written and blood, and grew to include things like “don’t microwave your clothes to dry them”. Everyone who had worked in the rail industry (especially conductors and engineers) for more than a few years has horrible stories. PTSD is real. Suited by train is fucking selfish and disgusting.
• at1as 1mo ago
  for how long were you in this career? How did your job change (if it all) during that time?
  • NuclearPM 1mo ago
    Almost 10 years, split between apprentice, journeyman, supervisor, project manager. It’s an amazing job when young and you can see lots of remote beautiful locations. Very high divorce rate… Moved to Nuclear which is similar in that small mistakes can have catastrophic consequences. Nuclear has more layers of redundancy (technical and administrative). Railway has half the people doing 1.5 times the work as it did 30 years ago - nice profits though, Things changed when Hunter Harrison gutted/streamlined. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Hunter_Harrison https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Hunter_Harrison
• euroderf 1mo ago
  In the USA ? I ask because the EU is putting effort into harmonising signaling (and all railway comms) across the union and it seems to be a fairly imposing task.
  • NuclearPM 1mo ago
    Canada.