Excellent info, I was always wondering how they were controlled.  How is computer stuff transmitted to remote power units?  Cellular?

Huh, interesting.

Good old fashioned radio waves IIRC, but I'll let the pros correct me if I'm wrong.

Canadian Pacific did a really really nice job with those.

Does it ever get boring rolling through the country in a train?  Every time I see one I think of freedom and riding through beautiful places on train tracks.

Nice photo honoring the military. Seen a lot of CSX machines on a daily basis, but none like that. Did get an occasional UP engine with the American flag. That made one pause in respect.

Thanks for posting this HighMountainWrangler

@wildearp

More or less it's a cellular type connection, kind of like extreme Bluetooth. You have your DPU remote consist, and your head end consist, and you link your controlling unit to one designated remote unit. Through the MU cables between the locomotives, that remote unit then controls the other remote units just as your head unit controls the other head end units. So, you pull up, the engineer has to walk to the remote units, he sets them up to be linked up, then comes back to the head unit and links them up. Whole process takes 10 or 15 minutes.



@fender_fella

It does, especially when you've done it so many times on the more mainline route. Some of our more remote Subdivisions don't because I'm always watching and admiring the scenery or watching for deer and bear, or looking at old landmarks. Or I've got the window open enjoying the weather. You're not allowed cell phone use while in motion, so basically you're confined to staring out the windows, calling signals, or finding something to read on your company tablet, or trying to have a conversation with your engineer. Most of them are cool but some aren't interested in talking, which makes for a long day. It's even worse at night because you can't see anything in the dark except straight ahead. And a lot of our work is done in the dark. It's even worse when you're tired and exhausted, staying awake is a challenge. Especially now that they have the in-cab cameras watching you.

Pretty cool locomotive.