(The Associated Press circulated the following article on December 6.)
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern says is teaming up with another company to start deploying a locomotive computer system to improve fuel efficiency and safe handling of trains.
The system known as LEADER (Locomotive Engineer Assist Display and Event Recorder) is developed by New York Air Brake. It provides engineers with real-time information about a train’s operation conditions. The on-board computer calculates and displays optimum speed based on a variety of conditions.
Norfolk Southern tested the system in a 2003 pilot program. The two-year program involved 15 locomotives running coal trains between Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Roanoke, Virginia.
The Norfolk-based company will be begin installing the systems in 2006.