--- In CBQ@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph W. Brown, Jr." <cbq682@...> wrote:
>
> My best friend is a conductor on the BNSF here. He told me that
FRED stands for Front to Rear End Device. They only flash in the
dark. The light on the unit is off when it is daylight. The unit
communicates with the front end of the train.
>
> R.W. Brown, Jr.
> Galesburg, IL
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
F.R.E.D. Flashing Rear End Divice.
As originally designed, FRED was a "One -Way" critter in that "he"
only reported trainline air pressure and movement. This was
important information but failed to provide the occasionally needed
emergency response form the rear of train.
It dosen't happen often but upon separation of a train an air hose
CAN become entangled in equipment located on the end of a car in
such a manner as to prevent the propogation of an emergency
application of the brakes on a portion of the train. If that
portion happens to be the rear of the train interesting and costly
events may occur.
For quite some time FREDS have had the ability to RECEIVE as well as
send radio commands allowing the Engineer to initiate an emergency
application of brakes from the rear of the train. This feature has
been included in specified air brake tests to assure that FRONT-TO-
REAR communication exists.
It's nice to have BOTH ends of a train stop at nearly the same time.
Karl
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