SIGNAL DEPARTMENT
The control over the Arkansas River Bridge has been a long time dream for Arkansas Missouri Railroad and their customers. On June 1, 1999, the control over the bridge was successfully transferred from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad to Arkansas Missouri Railroad.
The Centralized Traffic Control System was also removed from service on Arkansas Missouri Railroad mainline between milepost 407.5 to milepost 412.0; it is now controlled under yard limits with the exception of the interlocker. The interlocking on Arkansas Missouri Railroad mainline was also controlled by the BNSF; however, it is now being controlled by Arkansas Missouri Railroad, with no changes to the Union Pacific side of the interlocker.
A computer that is at the dispatch office in Springdale, Arkansas controls the Arkansas River Bridge. The computer sends and receives data through a telephone line, which updates the screen every few seconds. This gives the dispatcher a birds eye view of the bridge and it also shows where the trains are from the north end of the interlocker to about a half a mile south of the bridge. The bridge is controlled by the Genesis Computer System, which is manufactured by Union Switch and Signal.
System design and programming was performed by ABC Rail Systems and the installation and criteria for design of the system was performed by Arkansas Missouri Railroad Signal department.
The Genesis is a microprocessor-base system that uses a high-level language compiler, which enables the designer to modify or add to the program as necessary. The Genesis System has the capability of controlling 255 inputs and outputs, and currently Arkansas Missouri Railroad is only using eighteen out of the 255 that are available.
When a request for lowering the bridge is sent from the dispatch office in Springdale, it travels down the phone line about seventy-five miles to the bridge. The Genesis System compares the data that is sent to its own program data. If the information matches, the system activates the relays that start the Bridge, any track or bridge indications that change are sent to the dispatch office (all this is done in less than a few seconds.)
Some questions raised during the design stages were: security problems, power failures, conflicting route indications, opposing signal requests on the bridge, communications with all rail traffic in the new yard limits, Y2k problems, coast guard and F.R.A. requirements. Each problem was successfully resolved one at a time until a solution was found and the change was complete.
The Genesis System is doing a great job sending and receiving controls. Arkansas Missouri Railroad is already working on adding more to the system for future uses.
SIGNAL DEPARTMENT
MARKETING
MAINTENANCE OF WAY
LOCOMOTIVES
SAFETY & SECURITY
OPERATION LIFESAVER
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
FREIGHT CAR FLEET
AIR BRAKE SHOP
CUSTOMER SERVICE
TRAINING
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