Authors: John P. Jankovich, Ph.D.

Date of Publication:  June 1972

Sponsoring Agency:  U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Railroad Administration

Performing Organization:  Naval Ammunition Depot

Report No:  FRA-OPP-73-1

Abstract:

The purpose of the investigation was to review design of locomotive cabs from the human factors point of view. The following areas of human factors engineering are discussed:
 

• construction of cab interiors;
• design of controls and displays;
• atmospheric conditions in the cab;
• noise and vibration;
• seat design;
• physiology and vigilance of train driving.

Dimensions of the workspace in the cab are adequate on domestic locomotives, however, visibility, location of controls, and door arrangements should be further improved. Improvement of the control stand could be pursued by two different approaches: by modification of the present control stand to suit the human operator more adequately or designing a completely new wrap-around control stand through system approach and mock-ups. The survey of the thermal environment in the cab shows that winter heating is sufficient, but problems of fresh air supply without opening the windows have not been investigated either for winter or for summer operation. Noise studies found controversial results, therefore, both noise and the thus far unmeasured vibration conditions must be investigated. Adaptation of one of the better optional seats as standard instead of the present basic chair is recommended until an optimal locomotive seat is developed. The dead-man pedal is not satisfactory as an effective vigilance device. Physiological functions other than muscular work should be utilized in future designs to monitor alertness of the operator. The present practice, where the railroads specify the type and arrangement of equipment to be built in locomotive cabs by the manufacturers, cannot result in good human factors design by its nature. A universal cab with all of its equipment designed according to the principles of human factors engineering must be developed and adopted for the entire railroad industry.
 

No. of Pages:   237