MULES.

[murray_bredin]

 HI TO ALL . could any one update me on the use of MULES- DRIVERLESS - LOCO S.   HOW MANY WOULD BE OPERATING ON MAINLINE  FRIEGHT SERVICES  CURRENTLY...  your answers would be great to hear... thanks ...murray.

[ndbprr]

I am not sure I understand your question or terminology as I have not heard mule used before. If you mean how many rrs use unmanned trains the answer is none. If you mean how many engines in a consist of multiple engines are manned the answer is they are all controlled from the lead engine by one crew.

[Deggesty]

Are you referring to calves or B units (cabless locomotives, which have prime movers as well as motors), or slugs, which have motors only, and are fed from locomotives?

[tomikawaTT]

Three rail-connected definitions of MULE:

1. The four-legged variety, used as motive power by mine tramways (including underground) before powered locomotives became available.
2. The (usually) electric replacements for the four-legged ones in mines and industrial operations.
3. The special locomotives that move ships through the Panama Canal's locks - possibly derived from the use of the four-legged variety as canal motive power in the 19th century.

As for 'Iron Engineer' mainline operation of locomotives, it isn't happening in the United States.  MU trains set up for automatic operation (DC and Bay Area) have, 'Safety observers,' in the cabs.  Switchers without on-board crew are controlled by someone on the ground in the immediate vicinity.

USAF drones have more autonomy than any railroad has granted to a locomotive...

Chuck

[murray_bredin]

HI TO YOU... I have noticed on video ...that the loco. has no cab or driver  and is just used for EXTRA HORSE POWER  DRIVEN BY COMPUTER CONTROL FROM ...loco no 1 ...what do you call them...?????.this question is asked by a not so dumb [ Ausie] PLEASE ENLIGHTEN  ME..????.MURRAY.

[ndbprr]

Well computer control isn't exactly correct. The US uses a 27 pin jumper cable between connected engines that allows the controls in one engine to tell following engines to do the same thing. The one exception is dynamic braking in that there can be too much braking. Some rrs have rules about a maximum number of axles used. It is possible to turn it off in the cab by turning a switch in individual engines. This would be done before starting out .

[dknelson]

Perhaps the question is really about cabless units which can only be operated as what we called "B" units in the F unit era.  After a resurgence of popularity in the 1970s/80s I think they are now rare again.

Dave Nelson

[jeffhergert]

murray_bredin

HI TO YOU... I have noticed on video ...that the loco. has no cab or driver  and is just used for EXTRA HORSE POWER  DRIVEN BY COMPUTER CONTROL FROM ...loco no 1 ...what do you call them...?????.this question is asked by a not so dumb [ Ausie] PLEASE ENLIGHTEN  ME..????.MURRAY.

Are these locomotives in the video in the middle and/or at the rear of the train?  Those are called distributed power, "DP" for short, and are controlled from the lead engine.  The lead engine can control up to 4 trailing remote engine consists.  Very common on the railroads west of the Mississippi, I'm not sure about our eastern friends.

Jeff