Operator warning system and method for improving locomotive operator vigilance

1. An operator warning system for use in connection with a locomotive having a horn system with a horn activation actuator and a horn device configured to produce a noise, the operator warning system comprising:

an onboard computer system including a database including grade crossing data and locomotive data, the onboard computer system in communication with the horn system; and

an onboard warning device configured to provide at least one of an audio, visual and tactile indicator to an operator of the locomotive based upon at least one of grade crossing data, locomotive data and actuation condition of the horn activation actuator.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the grade crossing data includes data reflective of at least one of grade crossing location, grade crossing identity, grade crossing regulation, grade crossing condition and grade crossing horn activation requirement data.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locomotive data includes data reflective of at least one of locomotive position, locomotive speed, locomotive position in a consist, locomotive direction of travel and locomotive operation parameter.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the onboard computer system is in communication with a central database including track data.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the track data includes data reflective of at least one of grade crossing information, parallel track condition and switch information.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the warning device is at least partially embodied as a visual display device configured to provide a visual indicator to the operator.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the visual display device provides at least one of locomotive schematic data, track schematic data, track curvature data, grade data and grade crossing data.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the grade crossing data includes horn activation requirement data indicative of whether horn device activation is required in connection with a specified grade crossing.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein a visual indication is provided to the operator indicating whether horn device activation is required in connection with a specified grade crossing.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the visual indication is at least one of a shape, a color and a shade.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the visual indication is modified when the activation requirement data changes.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the grade crossing data includes horn activation requirement data, and wherein the warning device provides the indicator based upon at least one of horn activation requirement data and the actuation condition of the horn activation actuator.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the onboard computer system sends a signal to the horn system to activate the horn device based upon at least one of the horn activation requirement data and the actuation condition of the horn activation actuator.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the onboard computer system terminates the signal based upon the actuation condition of the horn activation actuator.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the onboard computer system sends a signal to the horn system to activate the horn device during at least a portion of the time that the locomotive traverses a grade crossing.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a navigation system in communication with the onboard computer system and configured to provide locomotive location data to the onboard computer system.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the navigation system comprises a speed sensing device and a global positioning system.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the speed sensing device is an axle-mounted speed sensor.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the global positioning system includes a global positioning receiver that provides periodic locomotive position data to the database on the onboard computer system.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the navigation system comprises at least one of a transponder circuit, an inertial navigation system, a magnetic compass and computer vision.

21. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an interface circuit in communication with the horn system and configured to determine whether the horn device has been activated by a signal initiated by the horn activation actuator or the onboard computer system.

22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is at least one of an alarm, a light, a visual warning on a visual display and vibration of an operator's seat.

23. A method of improving locomotive operator vigilance for use in connection with a locomotive having a horn system with a horn activation actuator and a horn device configured to produce a noise, the method comprising the steps of:

determining grade crossing data including at least one of grade crossing location, grade crossing identity, grade crossing regulation and grade crossing condition;

determining horn activation requirement data for the grade crossing;

determining locomotive data including at least one of locomotive position on a track, locomotive position within a consist, locomotive speed, locomotive direction of travel and locomotive operation parameter; and

providing at least one of an onboard audio, onboard visual and onboard tactile indicator to an operator of the locomotive based upon at least one of grade crossing data, locomotive data, horn activation requirement data and actuation condition of the horn activation actuator.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of communicating data between an onboard computer system and a central database including track data.

25. The method claim 24 , wherein the track data includes data reflective of at least one of grade crossing information, parallel track condition and switch information.

26. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of activating a warning device.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the warning device is a visual display device, the method further comprising the step of displaying a visual indicator to the operator.

28. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of providing a visual indicator to the operator indicating whether horn device activation is required in connection with a specified grade crossing.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the visual indicator is at least one of a shape, a color and a shade.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein the visual indicator is modified when activation requirement data changes.

31. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of providing the indicator based upon at least one of horn activation requirement data and the actuation condition of the horn activation actuator.

32. The method of claim 23 , wherein the horn device is automatically activated based upon at least one of the horn activation requirement data and the actuation condition of the horn activation actuator.

33. The method of claim 32 , further comprising the step of terminating the activation of the horn device based upon the actuation condition of the horn activation actuator.

34. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of activating the horn device during at least a portion of the time that the locomotive traverses a grade crossing.

35. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of monitoring actuation condition of the horn activation actuator.

36. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of periodically updating locomotive position data.

37. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of determining whether the horn device has been activated by a signal initiated by the horn activation actuator or automatically by an onboard computer system.