Early in the search for "Alertness Monitoring Devices" railroad's applied
"technology" that required high frequency electrical current to pass THROUGH
the Engineer's body. This HF signal caused the device to react when the
Engineer touched any metallic object in the cab and, therefore, satisfied
itself that the occupant of the seat was alive. The BLE voiced serious
objections to the device on the grounds that long-term physical harm may result
from the continuous presence of HF current in the body. I do not remember the
manufacturer of these "high tech" fly catchers but, after an incident on the
St. Charles Air Line that completely shut down the Q, as well as ALL operations
that normally used the Air Line, the RR was given the proper "incentive" to
remove them - - - IMMEDIATELY !!
A Q transfer job was ascending the Air Line over Canal St. with a switch engine
equipped with one of these terrific inventions. The alertor sounded its alarm
and the Engr. frantically began touching everything in the cab as well as
"beatin" on the "reset" button, all to no avail. Eventually the electrical
dept. was called upon to, in effect, rewire the control circuits in the cab of
the engine to restore it to a usable condition again. An engine was called
from Clyde to attempt to move the disabled eng. and cars from the Air Line but
the malfunction prevented the PC sw. from closing and air being restored to the
train. Nothing moved until the offending device had been rendered harmless by
the electricians.
As for the Vapor-Clarkson Corp., it was eventually sold to the Singer Sewing
Machine Co. and continued to produce RR related products for several years.
This company was again restructered and became Vapor Corp. doing business out
of Canada.
Karl
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