I usually eat my lunch near a small UP yard in the Sacramento area that services a chemical plant. They have some ragtag engines in use there most of the time. Some are badly faded ex SPs. Today there was a newer looking switcher I think it was an EMD MP15DC number Y1296. There were two men on the ground and they switch mostly large tank cars. I watched and ate my sandwich as they did their work moving cars around the yard. What shocked me was how HARD they were slamming into the couplers most of the time. They would bash into a cut of 7 or 8 cars and move the whole unit several feet with a big BOOM. Several times as they were coming in for a couple I found myself saying "To hot! To hot!" and then BOOM... another crashing coupling. I though the engineer must be getting bounced around pretty good! If this were an engineer on my layout I would give him some "counseling". I eventually noticed that both men on the ground had controllers strapped around their waists. I looked closer at the engine and there was no engineer. Well! That explains some of it. I wonder if the increasing use of RC equipment is going to lead in faster breakdown of and damage to equipment. They were really horsing that engine around. I wonder if these guys were just not very good, in a hurry or if my tolerance for coupler clashes is set too low.
Hi, Sean. Won't get into the political/economic reasons RCOs (Remote Control Operators) are proliferating on all railroads. Use of an RC loco (IMO) eliminates the need for concern for a crewmember riding or running the loco. Also, many of the folks using the RC paks are minimally trained in the operation (days or a couple weeks) of the unit, and have NEVER previously operated a locomotive, are not trained as "Engineer", or titled as such, nor holders of an "Engineer License". They can be (and often are) relatively new, low seniority, less experienced people working with railroad physics they don't understand. The political end - any deficiencies/accidents occurring in connection with this "favored" type of operation will be swept under the carpet or the blame placed elsewhere to protect the RC operation's continuance...It is of great economic benefit to the company. My credential: I am a retired (33 years service) engineman. Bob C.
My Great Uncle was a breakman for a Illinois Central switchyard that serviced the Standard Oil in Wood River Illinois in the 20's to the 60's, he would roll over in his grave to hear that as he could never quite get the cab time and qualifications for engineer.
I've watched the crew at a steel mill in St.Paul MN running their SW1200 RC and never saw them treat the equipment like that, I guess it depends on the crew.
Well, I guess it is not me being too sensitive. They really could cause some damage to those tankers. That could get real ugly. I don't know exactly what is in them, but I don't think it is corn syrup. They remote operators didn't even seem to know when or how to use the bell and horn, unless there are no rules about that. The actually looked like a couple of amature model railroaders playing with trains... quite a shame. I understand the need to cut costs, but this could end up costing the railroad a lot more if they split one of those cars open because of excessive force.
My 40+ year Union Pacific veteran grandfather shakes his head at the whole idea of a radio controlled loco. Where the worries really come for me is a nearby park with a track running through it where there are signs posted warning of R/C locos in use. I figure it's only a matter of time before some disaster occurs down there, and I just hope it isn't too horrible when it does.
I'm pretty sure that I had visited that park several years ago when my sister-in-law lived in St. Johns. I remember popping out of the trees on the edge of the park to see rail and a sign cautioning folks of remote locomotive operations. I can just see an accident waiting to happen there. Ben
They do the same here in Oakland. I've never seen them in operation, but I have seen those signs. They also say "Turn Flashers On In This Area". What good will that do for locos with unoccupied cabs?
I know this is an old thread, but I went down to the same spot near Power-In road and Fruitridge in Sacramento a few days ago to watch more bumping during lunch, and funny thing.... There were cars on the ground!!! Somehow they had derailed 4 covered hoppers. I don't know if it was a miss thrown switch or track failure or a something else. Luckilly they didn't tip the cars over and take out the 100KV powerline near the tracks. Geezzz!!! Of course, I didn;t have my camera. Dang!
HA! I just read your thread, seeing for the first time just now. After reading post #1 I knew right away you were talking about Power Inn Rd at Fruitridge. I should head over that way for a sandwich myself sometime. What sandwich shop you go to there? I'd like to watch the 'train wreck' as well (pun intended)
I grab something from La Bous or Subway and then go park at the east end of the parkinglot and watch the fun. Sure wish I was there when they dropped the cars!!
