trains (tell me about them)

[Despain]

also what would call someone who owns and runs their own train. originally i was thinking CONDUCTOR but that doesn't really work, as i've since then found out that ENGINEER is the one who actually does stuff, and conductor is more of staff for passgener trains. engineer doesn't really seem right, either though. this is quite a dilemma because the title was originally "the conductor" and now it has to be "the _____"

 

[Tindy]

My dad's a train fanatic.  Of course, only some of his knowlege trickled down to me.

Most modern passenger trains in America (as well as Japan and other countries) are divided into smoking and non-smoking compartments, and some are further divided into sleeping and dining quarters.  Modern trains, such as electric and light rail, have a very smooth ride; think of riding in an airplane but without the noise of the engine.  

Riding on a bullet train isn't much different then a regular electric train; smooth, quiet ride; well lit, and very cold inside.  You sit on seats that could easily fit in on an airplane.  Hostesses occasionally come around to bring overpriced and subpar snackfoods.   Going through tunnels is a very strange experience, and you're apparently not supposed to use the restroom when the train is in a tunnel (something about air pressure or summat...)

Riding on a steam train is a whole different world. The one I was on was very open and extremely rickety (it actually crashed a few years ago :X).  As it wasn't a general use train, all it had was dining and sitting cars, as well as a small shop in one of them.  It had no air conditioning; it was summer, so all the windows were open.   It had bench-type seatsd rather than airplane-esque seats, and the floors were wooden.  It actually did more or less make the chugga-chugga noise and was equipped with a whistle.

In terms of the outsides, obviously they're painted with the design of whoever they're owned by.  The cars are shaped to their purpose; hoppers are used to carry stuff like coal, tankers for liquids, box cars for lumber and things, etc.   The cars of bought-out rail companies will often be seen on large trains (IE, Norfolk pulling Chessie boxes.)

The caboose at one time was used so that a person could be at the rear of the train to reset switches, keep an eye out, house the crew, etc.  They're not used very often anymore.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caboose

Hmm....oh! It can take a train a mile to stop! :D

As for conductor vs engineer.........make up a title?  Railmaster, perhaps?

 

[Sonata]

oooh railmaster is good.

 

[Skyla Doragono]

My father is a signal maintainer for Norfolk Southern, a train line on the East Coast.  I can get him to write out a bunch of stuff on how they work.  I might even be able to get him to cough up some blue prints of the newer models (the ones that are controlled via computer).

 

[kaze950]

They are cramped. Don't go on one of them trains where you sleep on a bed. The rooms are small as shit

 

[Skyla Doragono]

Okay, my dad got back to me sooner than I thought:

Yes it is possible to live on a train people have been doing it for years. Amtrak goes coast to coast every day and north and south on the eastern coast railway. Out west there are a few people that own they're own trains.
Once the train has been made up and the air brake system has been tested, there is only one person running the train and that's the engineer. At that point the conductor is only taking the ride and calling signals.
As far as autopilot they have a fail safe in case the engineer falls asleep or dies oddly enough its called a deadman. It's a foot peddle that the engineer has to keep his foot down on or the train goes into emergency braking and stops the train.
The switching would be done the same way it is today. If you wanted to switch to another track you would have to get down out of the train and throw a switch to line yourself to the other track.
As far as the degree of curve it depends on what the speed of the track is. The faster you go the more degree of track there is.
Tell him to go to a good magazine store and look for RAILS Magazine or a trade magazine or he could pick up Jane's book of trains he can get them at Borders. Or he could go to NSCORP on the computer

Also, he says if there are any rail yards near you, to go to one, and see if there are any railroad buffs around taking pictures.  They could give you a lot more information.

 

[Zekallinos]

They are cramped. Don't go on one of them trains where you sleep on a bed. The rooms are small as shit

Not really. Of course, it won't be a Five-stars hotel but I know in China, bed-trains are quite popular for getting from one region to another (like 1-2 day or so). About 4 beds (2 bunk beds - small kids (up to 10 years old or so) sometimes shared a bed with the parent though - on the opposite side of course) with a cofee table and a large window. And then again, it was over 6 years ago. Should be even better now.