samfp1943On the cabooses seemed to ba an 'early' style antenna with a circular appendage about half way up its length ( tree 68 will know a lot more about these pieces of communications equipment.)
I think you're talking about the "wagon wheel" antenna - and I don't know a lot about them. There seemed to be several variations. They were popular for a while, but likely were more fragile than the "firecracker" and current low-profile designs.
samfp1943My guess is that the mid-train units were manned(?) or possibly,just DIT- Dead in Tow(?)
Early attempts at remotely controlling locomotives did require a lot of space - hence the boxcar. As electronics got smaller, it became possible to put them in the short hood.
It's already been noted here that many of the locomotives had two "firecracker" antennas on the cab roof. Very likely one was for the control of what we now call "distributed power."
I haven't made a study of such systems, so I'm not sure what method of communication the early units used. Digital does seem likely, although an analog system of communication is possible (ie, like a modem, vs just sending ones and zeros). If you listen in to EOTs, you'll hear pure digital.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
We were down that way just before the end, and stopped in @ a Substation to ask if any trains in the area.
The powerhouse guy said there was a Westbound coming, but, the Joe would have his Pantograph down as there had been Wire Trouble and that Engineer had been directed to run with the Diesels only.
The train arrived, and passed, and went, Pantograph down.
Some roads ran with the REAR Pantograph in the event it was damaged, the Front one could be used. If the Front Pantograph was damaged, it might foul the rear one, even if in the lowered position.
MILW was a fascinating road.
Just looking at all the infrastructure as in poles and wire, it is easy to see why electrification is so costly
Thank You.
BaltACD Where a single 'Little Joe' is coupled to a diesel engine consist - Is the Little Joe a manned double heading helper or does the Little Joe have MU capability to also control the diesel engine consist and therefore is the only head end crew?
Where a single 'Little Joe' is coupled to a diesel engine consist - Is the Little Joe a manned double heading helper or does the Little Joe have MU capability to also control the diesel engine consist and therefore is the only head end crew?
There is a picture of the full front view of a Little Joe (@ the Clark's Fork Bridge) it shows MU hoses on either side of the coupler.. Might be MU hoses or (possibly, heat or air lines) for hooking to passenger trains(?).
As for the mid train power. I am just not sure of the technology they used to communicate with those units (DPU's?) and their head-end control.
I think, based on Southrn Rwy use of mid-train 'slaves', back in that time frame.. The control technology required a Boxcar to house the mid-train slave communication technology. Passing through a tunnel would have been, possibly, a loss of communication and control between units, and potentially, problematic (?).
No idea if the Milwaukee used unmanned mid-train units, or what the technology they used to communicate control between the manned and unmanned units. All the Diesels seemed to have a pair radio antennaon the cab roofs. On the cabooses seemed to ba an 'early' style antenna with a circular appendage about half way up its length ( tree 68 will know a lot more about these pieces of communications equipment.)
My guess is that the mid-train units were manned(?) or possibly,just DIT- Dead in Tow(?)
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Just found this on the internet, it has been remastered and dubbed with sound. I have not seen this footage before and learned a few things about the Milwaukees operation. Never knew they used mid-train slaves as much as shown in this film and it looks like at least some of their track was in fairly good shape in 1973 given the speeds some of these trains were traveling. Nice video though....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71BwMlRR0pc
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