Locotrol
Encyclopedia
Locotrol is a product of GE Transportation Systems
that permits railway locomotive
s to be distributed throughout the length of a train (distributed power
). It is installed on more than 8,500 locomotives around the world, sending signals from the lead locomotive and via radio to the remote control locomotives.
predecessor Harris Controls. The electronics were mounted in a separate railcar, but have since been miniaturised into relatively small cabinets with much of the functionality contained in software. Early Locotrol customers included the Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western RR, Canadian Pacific and Australia's Mount Newman Mining and Queensland Rail
. Today 20 companies use the system, with 5,000 systems deployed.
Since 1975, both Queensland Rail
and Mount Newman Mining (now called BHP Billiton Iron Ore) in Australia have used the system on coal and iron ore trains, permitting the doubling in the size of trains without exceeding draw-gear
strength, through the use of mid-train locomotives. Westrail
, Western Australia's government-owned railway introduced Locotrol working in 1996, also with retrofitted equipment. In April 2002 BHP Iron Ore
in the Australian Pilbara set a record for the longest train
with 682 ore cars and eight distributed GE AC6000CW
locomotives in a 2-168-2-168-2-168-1-178-1 configuration. The Union Pacific Railroad
, BNSF Railway
are major North American Locotrol operators.
GE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. It is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine...
that permits railway locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s to be distributed throughout the length of a train (distributed power
Distributed power
In rail transport distributed power refers to the placing of additional locomotives at intermediate points in the middle of the train, remotely controlled from the leading locomotive, to allow longer trains where operational considerations or economics require it. Distributed power thus describes...
). It is installed on more than 8,500 locomotives around the world, sending signals from the lead locomotive and via radio to the remote control locomotives.
History
Locotrol was developed in the 1960s by an Ohio telephone and electronics manufacturer, North Electric Company. The technology was later purchased by GETSGE Transportation Systems
GE Transportation, formerly known as GE Rail, is a division of General Electric. The organization manufactures equipment for the railroad, marine, mining, drilling and energy generation industries. It is based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Locomotives are assembled at the Erie plant, while engine...
predecessor Harris Controls. The electronics were mounted in a separate railcar, but have since been miniaturised into relatively small cabinets with much of the functionality contained in software. Early Locotrol customers included the Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western RR, Canadian Pacific and Australia's Mount Newman Mining and Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
. Today 20 companies use the system, with 5,000 systems deployed.
Since 1975, both Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
and Mount Newman Mining (now called BHP Billiton Iron Ore) in Australia have used the system on coal and iron ore trains, permitting the doubling in the size of trains without exceeding draw-gear
Drawbar (haulage)
A drawbar is a solid coupling between a hauling vehicle and its hauled load. Drawbars are in common use with rail transport, road trailers, both large and small, industrial and recreational, and with agricultural equipment.-Agriculture:...
strength, through the use of mid-train locomotives. Westrail
Westrail
Westrail was the name of Western Australia’s public rail service between 1975 and 2000.It had its origins in 1877 as the Department of Works and Railways. This became Western Australian Government Railways in 1890 — a name that persisted for almost a century...
, Western Australia's government-owned railway introduced Locotrol working in 1996, also with retrofitted equipment. In April 2002 BHP Iron Ore
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
in the Australian Pilbara set a record for the longest train
Longest trains
Conventional freight trains can average nearly 2,000 metres. Freight trains with a total length of three or four times that average are possible with the advent of DPUs , or additional locomotive engines between or behind long chains of freight cars...
with 682 ore cars and eight distributed GE AC6000CW
GE AC6000CW
The AC6000CW is a diesel electric locomotive that is built by GE Transportation Systems. They are all used by major railroads in the United States, except for 8 units exported to BHP Billiton Iron Ore in Australia...
locomotives in a 2-168-2-168-2-168-1-178-1 configuration. The Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
are major North American Locotrol operators.
Features
Originally an aftermarket product, the system is also available as an option on new locomotives. Distributed power itself was not a new concept, but it required an extra train crew to be located in the middle of the train. Two modes of operation can be used: synchronous where all locomotives operating in unison, or independent mode where part of the train heading upgrade can be powering, while the other half can be braking on the downgrade. Most systems use lead and middle of train locomotives, but up to four consists can be controlled from the lead unit.See also
- Distributed powerDistributed powerIn rail transport distributed power refers to the placing of additional locomotives at intermediate points in the middle of the train, remotely controlled from the leading locomotive, to allow longer trains where operational considerations or economics require it. Distributed power thus describes...
- Remote control locomotive
- Control Car Remote Control LocomotiveControl Car Remote Control LocomotiveA Control Car Remote Control Locomotive is a stripped diesel locomotive body with remote control equipment installed. The term and the units are a creation of the Union Pacific Railroad, which is widely adopting remote control of locomotives in switching service...