Emergency action system for use with a locomotive

An emergency action system for use with a railcar or a locomotive, the system comprising:

• a user-based emergency action device that includes a transmitter and an emergency stop button;
• a locomotive transceiver in communication with the transmitter and located on a locomotive;
• and
• a train display device configured to send a warning to a locomotive operator, and to send a signal to activate the emergency action device to immediately stop the locomotive if a locomotive operator fails to response to the warning to stop an unsafe movement of the locomotive,
• wherein the locomotive transceiver receives a signal sent from the emergency action device when a crew member presses the emergency stop button, and the locomotive transceiver further sends an emergency stop signal to a set of brakes on the locomotive to stop, wherein the transmitter and the locomotive transceiver enables the crew member to stop the railcar or locomotive without communication to the locomotive operator when a hazard is recognized, and further wherein the emergency stop signal is sent to a relay valve causing air to be released from a brake pipe, thereby immediately applying the set of brakes and bringing the locomotive to an immediate stop, wherein the locomotive transceiver and the relay valve are configured to be responsive to and in communication with the emergency action device transmitter.

A method including:

• attaching a user based emergency action device to a crew member, the emergency action device including a transmitter and an emergency stop button;
• providing a train display device configured to send a warning to a locomotive operator, and to send a signal to activate the emergency action device to immediately stop the locomotive if a locomotive operator fails to response to the warning to stop an unsafe movement of the locomotive;
• when a hazard is recognized, pressing, by the crew member, the emergency stop button and the transmitter sending a signal to a locomotive transceiver in communication with the transmitter, wherein the locomotive transceiver is configured to be responsive to and in communication with the emergency action device and the transmitter, wherein the locomotive transceiver is located in a cab of a locomotive;
• sending, by the locomotive transceiver, an emergency stop signal to a set of brakes on the locomotive to stop, wherein the transmitter and transceiver enables the crew member to stop the railcar or locomotive without communication to a locomotive operator when a hazard is recognized;
• opening a relay valve to release air from a brake pipe, and thereby applying the set of brakes and bringing the locomotive to an immediate stop;
• and
• resetting the emergency action device only when the crew member pushes the emergency stop button a second time, which sends a reset signal closing the relay valve and releasing the set of brakes, indicating that the hazard has been resolved.