Remote Control Locomotives

[blueriver]

Hi,

What is the visual difference between a Remote Control Locomotive and one controlled manually?
Who controls the locomotives and from where?
What distance from the controller can they operate?
Are they generally confined to a yard or do some ride the main line?
Any information would be great.

Thanks.

blueriver

[Anonymous]

Well, there are different situations with different answers.

1) I've seen pictures of a UP yard using remote controlled switchers. The only difference in those engines are some decals warning that the engine may move without anyone in it. It is controlled by an operator with a remote control, who walks around the trains themselves, somewhat like a model railroader with a walkaround unit does. As I understand it, they are limited to yard service, but someone else might have more info on that.

2) There are in train remote controlled units on mainline service. Engines like the SD-40-2 and SD40T-2 "snoot" engines have remote control electronics in those longer noses. At least one such engine is in the front of the train with other normally outfitted engines, and at least one is in the middle of the train (some 2/3rds down the train) with other normally outfitted engines. The engineer in the front of the train controls these midtrain engines, and these trains grow to more than a mile. Newer engines that have these kinds of controls are operated in the same manner, but do not have any external differences (as far as I know).

3) The Haysi RR in Virginia initially had an old B unit EMD F engine as it's lone engine for shuffling cars around a mine (the Clinchfield RR had trackage rights, and performed all other operations on that shortline). It had some controls and a small window retrofitted in the B unit, but was mainly controlled remotely by radio control.

I don't know if any of that is what you were looking for, and I'm sure that other members might know of different situations, and more details.

---jps

[ndbprr]

On industrial locomotives there are two dead giveaways:
1. The cab windows are often reploaced with sheet metal
2. Usually - note the usually - there is a vertical bar with various different color lightbulbs that operator can see to determine that the commands were received.

Industrial remote control engines are usually operated by a person with a control box that hangs from a neck strap. They are remote controlled so he can also act as the brakeman and reduce crews. He generally rides on the steps or the porches.

[dehusman]

A remote yard engine will usually have a strobe light on it and warning signs.

A remote road engine (DPU) looks like any other engine except there is one very small antenna on the roof. There is no way to externally tell other than the antenna.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

Further to the answers above, and note here I'm speaking only of Canadian Pacific. There is usually an air dryer mounted beside or above the main air reservoirs on GP -9 units. Most systems are designed for 2 operators but can be programmed for 1 op under certain conditions. The working distance between controllers and the loco is usually 1 mile but this can be doubled if a radio repeater tower is used at the terminal.
Of course working distance can be affected by outside structures/interference etc..
In my experience, they are generally used in yard and industrial service, as well as transfer service over short distances on the main track between yards/terminals. The units CP has can be used in conventional mode ( engineer controlled) or remote mode. The strobe lights mentioned would operate when the unit was placed in remote mode.

Ross.

[Anonymous]

This a little off the subject but I have seen ballest cars going by my yard with a guy walking along carrying a box with buttons. and pushing buttons to unload ballest on the roadbed.
Maybe some day I will see robots doing the job.

[Anonymous]

Remote control locomotives are in regular use in the CN yards in Edmonton ,Alberta and have been for some time. You can usually pick them out by the flashing red lights.

[Anonymous]

I have heard that the UP has had problems with remote contolled locoes, one operator has lost the location of his engine. The UP is using the remote controlled engines here in Illinois in its new cotainer yard. From Brian Freund

[mvlandsw]

At least some CSX remote units have a small door added to the low nose.

[Anonymous]

I have a few shots of some UP yard RC engines. I will try and get them on a website and post a link for all to see them. It might be a few days though as I am working 10 hour shifts right now.