System to provide enhanced security and control of locomotives and trains

A method of at least one of automatically shutting down and stopping a train consist when an emergency condition exists, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) connecting a railway telemetry means for communication with a first control computer disposed on a locomotive;
• b) connecting at least one predetermined emergency sensing means for communication with said railway telemetry means;
• c) determining when at least one said emergency condition exists and generating at least one of an emergency condition signal and an emergency brake signal via said at least one predetermined emergency sensing means;
• d) communicating at least one of said emergency condition signal and said emergency brake signal generated in step (c) to said first control computer via said railway telemetry means;
• e) utilizing said first control computer to generate at least one of an engine shut down command signal and an emergency brake command signal in response to at least one of said emergency condition signal and said emergency brake signal communicated in step (d);
• f) communicating at least one of said engine shut down command signal and said emergency brake command signal to an engine control system and a brake control system respectively;
• and
• g) at least one of automatically shutting down and stopping such train consist in response to at least one of said engine shut down command signal and said emergency brake command signal.