PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - A VERY close call for this pilot in Pacoima CA
Old 15th Feb 2022, 04:19
  #44 (permalink)  
Feathered
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Earth
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Police cars usually have jumper cables available to help someone with a discharged automobile battery. If anyone had taken a jumper cable and connected it to both rails before unrolling the yellow tape around the scene,, it likely would have informed the train signalling system that the track was busy, causing a stop signal (in the cab or along the wayside) to approaching trains. It also would have caused a nearby crossing gate/signal to activate.
Signaling systems detect trains on the tracks by measuring resistance between the rails on a given section (block). A train's axle (or your jumper cable) will trigger low resistance, which is detected as the block is busy.
Another approach would have been to call the railroad emergency number. The police officers' dispatch should have been able to do this as there was a bunch of time after landing.
With all that said, this is incredible bravery by the officers on the scene and a fabulous rescue of the injured pilot.
Feathered is offline