Railroad worker warning system for train conductors

A warning system for warning an operator of a train that the train is approaching personnel in proximity to railroad tracks, the system comprising:

• a portable transmitter carried by at least one of the personnel for transmitting a radio frequency (RF) warning signal at a given power output along a wireless RF transmission path, wherein the given power output of the RF warning signal is dependent upon the speed of the train, wherein the RF warning signal is indicative of the presence of the personnel in proximity to the railroad tracks;
• a receiver disposed on the train for receiving the RF warning signal along the wireless RF transmission path, wherein the receiver disposed on the train receives the RF warning signal a predetermined amount of time prior to the train reaching the personnel, the predetermined amount of time being dependent upon the given power output of the RF warning signal, whereupon receiving the RF warning signal the receiver generates an alarm to notify the train operator of the presence of the personnel in proximity to the railroad tracks;
• a transmitter disposed on the train for transmitting an RF confirmation signal upon receipt of the RF warning signal by the receiver disposed on the train;
• and
• a portable receiver carried by the at least one of the personnel for receiving the RF confirmation signal, whereupon receiving the RF confirmation signal the portable receiver generates an alarm to notify the at least one of the personnel that the train operator is aware of the presence of the personnel in proximity to the railroad station.

A method for warning a operator of a train that the train is approaching personnel in proximity to railroad tracks, the method comprising:

• transmitting a radio frequency (RF) warning signal at a given power output along a wireless RF transmission path from the personnel in proximity to the railroad tracks, wherein the given power output of the RF warning signal is dependent upon the speed of the train, wherein the RF warning signal is indicative of the presence of the personnel in proximity to the railroad tracks;
• and
• receiving the RF warning signal along the wireless RF transmission path with a receiver disposed on the train, wherein the receiver disposed on the train receives the RF warning signal a predetermined amount of time prior to the train reaching the personnel, the predetermined amount of time being dependent upon the given power output of the RF warning signal;
• generating an alarm to notify the train operator of the presence of the personnel in proximity to the railroad tracks upon receipt of the RF warning signal by the receiver disposed on the train;
• transmitting an RF confirmation signal from the train upon receipt of the RF warning signal by the receiver disposed on the train;
• receiving the RF confirmation signal by the personnel in proximity to the railroad tracks;
• and
• generating an alarm to notify the personnel that the train operator is aware of the presence of the personnel in proximity to the railroad tracks upon receipt of the RF confirmation signal by the personnel in proximity to the railroad tracks.