Multiple unit question

[Anonymous]

I was wondering if the lead unit in a consist of locos dies or shutsdown for some reason does the engineer's controls still operate the rest of the units?

[thirdrail1]

It would depend on the cause of the problem with the lead unit, but the lead unit does not have to be actively involved in pulling the train to control the other units.

[wabash1]

yes the controls still work nothing changes. the only thing that you dont have when the lead unit is isolated or dies is the amp readings either in power or dynamic. all other things work including the alerter. its against the fra rules but sometimes when i have a sd-40 for a lead unit i isolate it to get rid of the noise. and let the other units do the work.

[CShaveRR]

I was on a crew once when the conductor complained to the engineer about the vibration noises on the lead unit...whereupon the engineer (ever the character!) shut it down completely! He was still able to control the trailing unit from the cab of the dead one.

[Anonymous]

Wabash.....You forgot one thing. When the unit is shut down the heater does not work....burrrrr

[Anonymous]

If the lead engine in a consist dies and the problem does not have to do with the control stand...the engineer's controls will still operate the rest of the of the units. This is similar to the situation with CSXT's road slugs. They can operate as the lead engine in a consist.