United States Department of Transportation
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Abstract:Locomotive operating crews and rescue workers need improved means of cab egress and access in the event of an accident. Although present regulations and practices address this need in a limited way, further measures could provide substantial improvements in the survivability of crews. The purpose of the first phase of this program was to conduct a multi-faceted assessment of egress options in current locomotives, assess some accident conditions that crews could face, and suggest the most productive improvements. The assessment involved review of existing regulations, site visits to commuter and freight railroads, and interviews with train crews. A review of National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident investigation reports and the FRA accident/incident database identified accident scenarios where lack of adequate egress was an issue. Computer simulation of locomotive crash scenarios identified structural areas of the cab structure that could be improved for better egress, and also established the severity of the effects on crews. Based on the findings of the first phase of the program, subsequent work focused on development of an innovative crew egress system for rollover derailment accidents. Options for crew egress are most limited in this situation. Three design concepts were evaluated with train and engine crewmembers and emergency rescue personnel. A mockup of the most promising concept, a roof-mounted escape hatch, provided the means for a preliminary evaluation of the usability of the hatch system. Test subjects were able to actuate the hatch and escape the cab in 30 seconds or less. Future work will involve refining the hatch design so that it is easily manufactured and exploring secondary egress options.
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