>>856885Notice how it's a mine train, not a regular train. Isolated lines don't require the same amount of mental dexterity/alterness mainlines do. But even then, train operator's wages aren't exactly impressive unless you live in a leftist country run by unions.
>>856936Never claimed it wasn't impossible, just impractical. And, likely uneconomical given that railroads have to buy insurance to cover accidents especially ones from mechanical failure.
And of course the biggest issue is that RRs don't like changing operations dramatically. It took until the late 90s to get remote controlled switchers in place, and even now in 2015 postive train control and advanced computer-assisted signalling isn't common outside of mainlines.
