Union Pacific must be experimenting with automatic trains! (?)

Remote control locomotives are completely safe.

 

The railroads have been using remote control locomotives in yard and hump operations for a number of years now.  My employer uses them in our production sites as well.

Curt

They're safe when operated in compliance with rules governing remote control operations. Some remote control operators do not always operate them in compliance with remote control rules, which removes safeguards provided in the rules and can result in collisions, sideswipes, derailments, and injuries.

Home > 620WTMJ - Error

Guys, I know something was wrong with the link in my initial posting so I posted a corrected one.  The OGR webmaster (maybe Rich) kindly posted the new link in my original post.  Turns out, that doesn't work either(!!!???)  So here are the two original links and let's hope they work this time:

http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/196362231.html

 

and

 

http://www.620wtmj.com/multime...-fire-196360871.html

 

I know there are automatically controlled trains working in yards, in fact I spent a hour or so watching the local guy make up trains in our Butler yard.  He must have been bored or something 'cause he saw us watching and decided to take a break and come over to chat and show us how the remote control works.  He took great delight in demonstrating how he could blow the horn with the engine blocks away and out of sight.  I wonder if anyone standing near it was startled.  Eventually he finished his break and walked back across the main line into the yard.  He blew the horn again and waved as we were driving off.  So I know there are automatically (actually remote) controlled trains switching in yards.

 

My original post was to demonstrate how little reporters know about railroading, and don't bother to even check their facts.

 

If the links don't work, you're not missing much; they're only two photos of the engine fire.

 

FJ 

Salt Lake City Union Pacific yards. 

 

In 2003 I installed remote controlled units in several GE units.  These were designed to remain within the yard limits.  Two yard personnel worked trains using hand held radio control remotes for makeup and breakdown of trains. One person would throw turnouts while the other moved the engine.

 

Sensors were installed in the track to slow and then stop the engine automatically as it reached yard limits. As a backup a GPS system was also installed in the engine to limit movement of the engine especially as it reached yard limits.

 

If radio control contact was interrupted the engine would stop. Road crossings in the yard area had signs warning drivers about unattended locomotives.

 

 

I know of a completely remotely controlled line.  It's an electrified line that only goes from point A to point B, freight only, and there's nothing for miles and miles around it except the highway it parallels for a while (It's been a number of years since I have been in the area.).

Here is a picture of a UP remote control platform.

Its an old loco with no engine, just the electronics so that any engine can be coupled to it and operated by remote control.

CSX uses modified flatcars that perform the same function.

All locomotives operating under remote control must have flashing amber lights on its roof.

 

So there IS a prototype for DCC, DCS, L/TMCC......

 

Those remote control UP platforms look like the CHALLENGER gray express boxcars of the past!