Patent ID: 7624952

Claim:
A system for use by railroads having a train, tracks, a train operator, track walker, railroad workers, railroad personnel and others, comprising: warning means for alerting said railroad workers, and railroad personnel and any others working or present near said railroad tracks to the presence of an oncoming train on said railroad tracks and for alerting said train operator of said oncoming train of the presence of such workers, railroad personnel or others on said railroad tracks, said warning means including: a plurality of personal transmitter/receivers, one of said personal transmitter/receivers for positioning on each of said railroad workers and railroad personnel, said personal transmitter/receivers being battery-operated, said personal transmitter/receivers for receiving signals indicating the presence of an oncoming train, said personal transmitter/receivers providing a perceptible indication to each of said railroad workers of said oncoming train when receiving said signals, each of said personal transmitter/receivers transmitting signals for indicating the presence of train workers working on said railroad tracks; a train transceiver disposed on said train, said train transceiver viewable by said train operator and railroad personnel, said train transceiver for receiving signals transmitted by each of said personal transmitter/receivers carried by said railroad workers and railroad personnel, said signals from said personal transmitter/receivers indicating the presence of said railroad workers on said railroad tracks, said train transceiver having means to alert said train operator of the presence of said railroad workers, another train, railroad personnel and/or track walkers on or near said train tracks, said train transceiver further including a signal transmission means, said signal transmission means sending signals to any personal transmitter/receivers able to receive said signals to warn said railroad workers and railroad personnel of the presence of an oncoming train on said railroad tracks, said train transceiver signals activating said personal transmitter/receivers to produce said perceptible indication to said railroad workers and railroad personnel for warning them of said oncoming train and at the same time activating any warning lights or horns nearby; a VOBC and a tag reader disposed on said train; at least one tag placed by said the railroad workers near said track in advance of said work zone for activating said VOBC and slowing said train when said tag reader on said train reads said tag; wherein said activated VOBC sends a signal to said transceiver on said train which transceiver notifies said train operator and said railroad workers on said track of said oncoming train.