If the Dead Man or Alerter feature failed en route, what must an employee do?

• A. Immediately take position in the operating control compartment with the Engineer, and be instructed on how to stop if the Engineer becomes incapacitated.
• B. Shut down the train remotely.
• C. Continue to operate normally and monitor alarms.
• D. Call the Dispatcher for instructions only after stopping.

Answer: (A)

When the Dead Man or Alerter safety feature fails, immediate action centers on ensuring someone can maintain control and stop the train if the engineer is unable to. The correct procedure is to stop the train and position yourself in the operating compartment with the engineer, and to be instructed on how to stop the train if the engineer becomes incapacitated. This keeps a qualified person in control and provides a clear plan for stopping safely should the engineer be unable to react.

Shutting down remotely isn’t an available option, continuing to operate defeats the safety purpose of the failure, and waiting for dispatcher instructions after stopping isn’t the required immediate safety response.