CFR 49 Part 243 Virtual Training, with the Federal Railroad Administration and Heartwood

Locomotive engineers have been qualified and trained with
simulation technology for years. Through technology, the
opportunity to leverage simulation beyond locomotive engineers is
quickly emerging. Heartwood scratched the surface by developing a
virtual simulation platform to certify Transportation and
Mechanical employees in conducting 49 CFR Part 232 brake tests at
Norfolk Southern, and obtained a Federal Railroad Administration
simulation training waiver to meet the regulatory requirements.
With simulation technology, including augmented and virtual
reality, regulatory and maintenance training can be at employee
fingertips. Can railroads train, qualify and improve their
workforce with simulation tools? FRA Staff Director, Railroad
Safety Partnerships Rob Castiglione, Heartwood Co-Founder and Chief
Revenue Officer Neil Wadhawan and Consultant Brian Keller discuss
this emerging technology with Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William
C. Vantuono.