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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Technical Reports

Development of Enhanced Overlay Positive Train Control (EO-PTC)

Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) researched a new method of train control proposed to increase operational efficiency where Positive Train Control (PTC) equipment is installed and operational. Enhanced Overlay Positive Train Control (EO-PTC) allows for the removal of signal-based...

Final Report - Guidelines for Testing of FRA Rear End Marking Devices

The implementation of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 221 - Rear End Marking Device - Passenger, Commuter, and Freight Trains, requires the installation of certain highly visible marking devices for the trailing end of the rear car of all passenger, commuter. and freight train. It is...

Improving Collision Post Crashworthiness of Legacy Locomotives

Modern locomotives are built to crashworthiness standards defined in Subpart D of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 229 as well as the Association of American Railroads’(AAR) S-580 standards. Older locomotives, specifically the narrow-nose locomotives, were not designed to these...

Acoustical Warning Devices as Emergency Warning Systems, Phase 1

This program demonstrated the effectiveness of Acoustical Warning Devices (AWD) as secondary Emergency Warning Signals (EWS). The focus is to warn trespassers of an approaching train, through the development of an emergency warning signals that produce a sense of urgency, are noticeable to...

Why Do Passenger Trains Run through Switches in the Rail Yard?

This study examined why crews working in yard operations run through switches in the wrong direction or run through damaged switches. Running through a switch in the wrong direction can damage the switch. Operating through a damaged switch can derail the train. The authors worked with a railroad to...

Conventional and Crash Energy Management Locomotive Coupling Tests

Crash energy management (CEM) components which can be integrated into the end structure of a locomotive were developed: a push-back coupler (PBC) and a deformable anti-climber (DAC). These components are designed to inhibit override in the event of a collision. The results of vehicle-to-vehicle...