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[CNJRoss]

The Journal News, White Plains, NY, posted 8/17:

In Transit: Metro-North school brings real rails to classroom

The simulation room at Metro-North's signal maintainer school is well-suited for an episode of "How Stuff Works."

There you will find both the obscure and familiar pieces of equipment that make up the the railroad's sophisticated signal system. The Journal News recently visited the North White Plains facility to learn about what it takes to become one of the railroad's 260 signal maintainers, who oversee some 800 track switches, 480 light (red/green) signals, and 105 grade crossings where roads and train tracks intersect.

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Learning the railroad: "Within the simulation room we are able to teach signal maintainers every test that needs to be done out in the field," Forcina says. "This is controlled environment, so if they make an error here this is where we want them to make it."

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Metro-North in Texas? Metro-North's signal instructors hope one day their courses will be taught in railroad schools across the country. Metro-North is one of 20 railroads nationwide that have been working together since last year to create a standardized training program for signal maintainers. . . .

Read more here.