What do you think about UP's Remote control locomotives?

Question

Since I beleive the maker of the remotes was bought out by GE. What is going to happen?

Answer 1

I'm glad you asked.

For a good answer, click on my smiling face to the left and when arriving at my profile page, go to my 360.  Once there, read the blog post of 6/11/07 (too long to enter here).  You'll find it interesting and/or entertaining, I am sure, and it will enlighten you to the dangers of DPU operation on the good ol' UP.

Remember, you can't have stUPid without the UP right in the middle...

Answer 2

There are, or were, 3 systems that the UP was using.  GE, Cattron, and Canac.  It was Cattron that bought Canac recently and so far, I don't know if they are going to become one operating system.  We use Canac at Miller Yard in Dallas, and there are pros and cons with the remote system.   Sometimes using rco seems faster, but not really.  UP invested millions into this technology, so they are going to keep it until their stock starts to fall.  Personally, I have known rco my entire railroad career and have worked conventional as well rco jobs and I think it is here to stay.  In Dallas, using rco, we can only drag out 25 cars at a time.  If the UP wants to pay me an extra 46 minutes for a man's job, then I'll have to do it.  Don't blame me, the BLET had a chance to get the remote contract, but I can't help it if they sold out a man's job for 46 mins.

Answer 3

I dont work for the UP any more so this may not be an answer of interest.

We have had remote operations on this property for a number of years.

It has NOT improved safety nor production in the least, in fact the car count of remote jobs is lucky to be half what it was in manual.

When things get really backed up, they have to call an extra switch and it is in manual, but the RR has spent big $$$ to invest in remote technology so they are by god gonna make it work come h**l or high water.

It has actually been a good thing for the switchman's extra board because there is actually MORE work for them.

Answer 4

I personally dont care for them. The Remote control engines were invented by the Canadians and theyve abandoned the technology yet UP is constantly adding remotes even to the Outlying points. In my opinion its just a reason to get rid of more engineers or conductors.......

Answer 5

The remote locomotives we use in the yard are usually just converted from old yard switch engines and old sd-40 types from the road, so they are pieces of c**p.  If you are asking about the actual remote control devices, the receivers and boxes we use are from a Canadian company, and I have been hearing that we will be getting updated ones pretty soon, but I don't know if that means it has anything to do with GE or not.  I'm not sure if you are asking what we think about the units themselves, or what we think about remote control switching in general, but maybe I answered your question.

Answer 6

I've never worked in or around a remote control unit, but the idea of it freaks the h**l out of me. When you run a locomotive, you run it with the seat of your pants. You have to feel what it's doing and how quickly it's responding, and when you're standing on the ground with a box in your hands, an accident is always a hair's width away. This is one technology that should really be given to the worms.