Remote control locomotive

A remote control locomotive (also called an RCL) is a railway locomotive that can be operated with a remote control. It differs from a conventional locomotive in that a remote control system has been installed in one or more locomotives within the train, which uses either a mechanical or radio transmitter and receiver system. The locomotive is operated by a person not physically located at the controls within the confines of the locomotive cab.[1] They have been in use for many years in the railroad industry, including industrial applications such as bulk material load-out, manufacturing, process and industrial switching. The systems are designed to be fail-safe so that if communication is lost the locomotive is brought to a stop automatically.[1]

Remote-control equipped locomotive

History

United Kingdom
GWR Pannier Tank with Autocoach on Bodmin & Wenford Railway

One of the earliest remote control locomotives was the GWR Autocoach, which replaced the GWR steam rail motors on both operational cost and maintenance grounds. When running 'autocoach first', the regulator is operated by a linkage to a rotating shaft running the length of the locomotive, passing below the cab floor. This engages (via a telescopic coupling) with another shaft running the full length below the floor of the autocoach. This shaft is turned by a second regulator lever in the cab of the autocoach. The driver can operate the regulator, brakes and whistle from the far (cab) end of the autocoach; the fireman remains on the locomotive and (in addition to firing) also controls the valve gear settings. The driver can also warn of the train's approach using a large mechanical gong, prominently mounted high on the cab end of the autocoach, which is operated by stamping on a pedal on the floor of the cab. The driver, guard and fireman communicate with each other by an electric bell system.

United States

In the United States remote controlled locomotives have been in use since the 1980s. In 1988, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a Hazard Information Bulletin regarding their use.[2] By 1999 Canadian National Railway had 115 locomotives equipped with remote control equipment, covering 70% of flat-yard switching and all of its hump yard operations. Canadian National estimated a savings of CDN$20 million per year vs. traditional switching operations.[3]

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has expressed concerns about remote control locomotives. The union stated that remote control locomotives are not as efficient as traditional engineer-in-cab switching operations while being more dangerous.[4]

In 2001, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recommended minimal guidelines for the operation of remote control locomotives.[5]

The Union Pacific Railroad has developed remote-control enabling locomotives it refers to as Control Car Remote Control Locomotives. CCRCL's are stripped-down locomotives fitted with remote control equipment. CCRCL's have no motive power and must be coupled to a standard locomotive.[6]

Present
An InterCity 125 in original British Rail livery near Chesterfield

Modern remote control systems are now based on digital signal technology, with most using Time-division multiplexing transmission to cut-down on the number of cables or radio bandwidth required for integrated control.

The UK's InterCity 125 was the first passenger train to use TDM technology, introduced from 1976 to allow it to control up to eight carriages sandwiched between two Class 43 power cars.

Locotrol is a product of GE Transportation Systems that enables distributed power sending signals from the lead locomotive to the remote units via radio control. Locotrol is installed on more than 8,500 locomotives around the world.[7] Users of the system include BHP Iron Ore, Westrail and Queensland Rail in Australia.[8][9][10]

See also

References
  1. "Safety: Remote Control Locomotive Operations". Federal Railroad Administration. Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  2. "Remote Control Plant Locomotives". OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin 19880808. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  3. Luther S. Miller (February 1999). "Locomotive remote control - A prize just out of reach". RailwayAge.com. Railway Age. Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  4. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Auxiliary. "Remote Control Locomotives". www.bletauxiliary.net. Archived from the original on 2008-12-11. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  5. FRA. "Recommended minimal guidelines for the operation of remote control locomotives" (PDF). www.fra.dot.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-03-26. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  6. Sean Graham-White. "UP CCRCL's". www.trainweb.org. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  7. "Locomotive Products : Onboard Systems : LOCOTROL Distributed Power". GE Transportation - North America. www.getransportation.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  8. William C. Vantuono (April 2002). "Control this! how distributed power helps railroads handle the world's longest, heaviest trains. demonstration union train - BHP Iron Ore Australia". Railway Age. findarticles.com. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  9. "Locotrol Workings". djukin.tripod.com. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
  10. "Railways in the Coal Fields of Queensland". Technology in Australia 1788-1988. www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au. p. Chapter 6, page 382. Retrieved 2008-11-16.
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