Dual-Control locos

[jimrice4449]

The SP Geeps were identifiable by having the orange and silver wings on both ends.   The main purpose was to run on a branch of the commute service w/o turning facilities at the end.   During steam operations some of the engines assigned to this service had pilots on the tender.

[espeefoamer]

Southern Pacific  had 10 passenger GP9s used in Commute service equipped with dual controls to prevent their having to be turned at the end of the run.Four of these were "torpedo boat" units built without dynamic brakes. These had the air tanks on top of the long hood.

[jchnhtfd]

I have a vague and fuzzy recollection of a few ex N&W Alco RS11's with dual controls -- but that may be quite wrong...

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

 

 

 I understand, during the Nineteen-Fifties, that CP had Two 539 MLW Switchers Modified so they could be 'Run' from Either Side where a Man was Required on the Left Side of Cab part of the time to Watch for Hand Signals From Switchmen.

This was during the 'Getting Rid of the Fireman' Phase while Steam was on the way out.

 Can anyone Supply more info on this, Please?

There was an article in TRAINS from the early 1960's when Battle Creek yard was expanded and rebuilt, but as a flat-switching facility.  GTW assigned S2's which were oriented on the switch leads to have the control on the outside of the lead so the engineer could see the switchmen.  There were also a trio of SW900's which were floaters (could be assigned to any lead) and were equipped with dual controls to put the engineer on the outside of the lead without having to turn the locomotive.

[Anonymous]

 

 

 I understand, during the Nineteen-Fifties, that CP had Two 539 MLW Switchers Modified so they could be 'Run' from Either Side where a Man was Required on the Left Side of Cab part of the time to Watch for Hand Signals From Switchmen.

This was during the 'Getting Rid of the Fireman' Phase while Steam was on the way out.

 Can anyone Supply more info on this, Please?

[CShaveRR]

I think that all of the C&O BL2s, at least in the 1840-1847 series, had dual controls (I guess I should look it up).

The Chicago Great Western had a number of TR2s that had dual controls.  CNW kept the stands there at least until it rebuilt some of them in the early 1970s, though they never used them, that I'm aware of.

[Anonymous]

I seem to recall that the Minneapolis Northfield & Southern Baldwin center cab diesels had dual controls. 

[route_rock]

  Our SD-9s have dual control ( BNSF) not sure the heritage of these old dogs but they are still out there running ( some are even lead qualified!!!!)

 

[rrboomer]

To go back even further the C&O had dual control BL-2's, their 1846 being one of them. The left hand controls where tucked in to the rear of the fireman's side cab door. It was a a tight fit. I was never in the cab of any other C&O BL-2's so don't know if this was one of many, or the only one.

Other dual control units I can think of where Soo 2556 (psgr GP9) and many of the CB&Q SD9's.

The Rock Island's had 15 "Suburban" dual control RS-3's 485-499. Also dual were the RI's two H-15-44's 400 and 401. The RI BL-2's were not dual control.

[dehusman]

The MP had some dual control hi-hood GP7's.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

A couple of clarifications and additions:

"PRSL" GP38s 2010-2014, were actually PC.  PRSL ordered them, but couldn't afford them when they were built.  PC took them instead.  These and the 2000-2009 actually had a single control stand, but had mechanical linkage to operate the throttle from the LH side.  To accomodate the linkage, the front cab wall had to by bumped out a few inches.

The PC U23Bs weren't really dual control, they were bi-directional.  They had a single control stand that was placed parallel to the side wall of the cab so that you could turn the seat either way and still have easy access to the controls.  PC also bought some GP38-2s with this arrangment.   The Southern had started the practice and the PC president at the time of these purchase was a Moore, an ex-SOU guy.

Conrail also has the ex-EL SD45-2s that had dual control stands.

I guess the PC GP38/38-2s and the RDG SD45s were the only ones needing the "bumped-out" cabs.

[Anonymous]

RF&P GP35's and GP40's were dual-control units and were often run long hood forward. SW1500 #91 was also equipped with dual-controls.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

N&W was very big on dual controls, I don't have too many specifics on which locomotives were so equipped.  VGN did buy its Train Masters with dual controls.  As you might imagine, it was an expensive option and took up a lot of space in the cab.

[oltmannd]

A couple of clarifications and additions:

"PRSL" GP38s 2010-2014, were actually PC.  PRSL ordered them, but couldn't afford them when they were built.  PC took them instead.  These and the 2000-2009 actually had a single control stand, but had mechanical linkage to operate the throttle from the LH side.  To accomodate the linkage, the front cab wall had to by bumped out a few inches.

The PC U23Bs weren't really dual control, they were bi-directional.  They had a single control stand that was placed parallel to the side wall of the cab so that you could turn the seat either way and still have easy access to the controls.  PC also bought some GP38-2s with this arrangment.   The Southern had started the practice and the PC president at the time of these purchase was a Moore, an ex-SOU guy.

Conrail also has the ex-EL SD45-2s that had dual control stands.

[Anonymous]

I know that the Southern had dual-control locos from EMD and GE, but I was wondering about other RR that also purchased that option. I know some already. PRSL GP38s 2001-2014, RDG  SD45s 7600-7604, and PC GP38s 7815-7824 as well as an order of U23Bs. The EMDs had a distinctive built-out cab to accomdate the control layout.