Does locomotive CLCX5118 provide the most practical answer for clean switcher and road switcher locomotive technologies?
Do you mean the CLCX 5118 that is pictured in this photo:
http://railphotos.herkamur.ca/xwiki/bin/view/Photos/CLCX5118-20060804-01
[:O]
Well, it don’t think that will be emitting much emissions. I found a photograph of CLCX 5116 (which appears to have an identity crisis) which is close to CLCX 5118. According to information, it is a remote control locomotive, nothing about reduced emissions.
The write-up in the February TRAINS suggests that this design is oriented to the industrial switcher market, where remote control and quick-start diesel engines are useful features. The article does state that the engines are Tier II compliant.
I noticed that these locomotives are controlled by Allen Bradley programmable logic controllers. It sounds like they are intending for these locomotives to be maintained and repaired by the plant maintenance people.
The CLCX5118 that is shown in the February issue of Trains on pg 21.
I doubt anyone here knows the answer to your question. One thing I do know, that is one hideous looking locomotive. It is a monstrosity.
Sounds like they are updating the electo-mechanical controls and bringing them into the modern century…PLC’s are mainstays in industrial control these days. Essentially its an “Embedded” computer which can be interfaced with many different types of controls and motors. I expect the new GEVO engines have at least one PLC installed…I believe GE PLC’s are Faunc. PLC’s are especially usefull if you have to update or change control parameters, especially sequences and delays. Instead of major rework in a cabinet, you just reprogram the plc.
I know about PLCs, in fact I just ordered an A-B Micrologix one so that I can practice writing programs more. My observation is based on my belief that GE, EMD, and perhaps the minor locomotive builders, put a computer into their locomotives that are probably similar to a PLC but may well be some type of specialized computer to run locomotives. Just like auto manufacturers put in computers that are probably similar to PLCs but they are not PLCs, nor can you use RSLogix or ControLogix to see the code. That is probably the big difference, I doubt that those computers use ladder logic, of course PLCs can use other languages.
Since these locomotives are intended to be used at industries, it makes since to use parts and programs that the maintenance technicians at those plants are familiar with. I bet that those locomotives’ PLCs do have ladder logic. I wonder how many I/O modules they use.
Autos use Microcontrollers. Microcontrollers are essentially standard microprocessors based on industry standard CPUs with built on ram and interfaces to connect to the various sensors and the fuel injectors.
The most used Microcontroller in cars used to be the MC68HC11 which is based on the motorola 6800 processor. The same processor in the old Apple 2 computers.
The Auto Industry uses PLCs on the manufacturing floor. PLCs are relativly speaking larger then Microcontrollers.
I don’t know much about this specifically, but Loco manufacturers have been using Microprocessor controls since the super series 50s and the super 7s. Many loco rebuilding projects involve adding microprocessor controls to older engines. That’s the -3 series many RRs have and some -2s. Each RR names them differently.
I’m not sure whether the OEM engines use PLCs or Microcontrollers or both, or maybe, the Microcontrollers are part of the PLCs?
[quote user=“ericsp”]
I know about PLCs, in fact I just ordered an A-B Micrologix one so that I can practice writing programs more. My observation is based
I am pretty sure the 6800 was first used in the original Mac and Lisa.
I am pretty sure the 6800 was first used in the original Mac and Lisa.
Nope, Macsused the 68000 series processors
Hmm, Wikipedia is dying on me. I needed to do some research on this, because I knew you were right about the 6502, but I also know that the Moto6800 is the basis. What I got before Wikipedia crapped out:
As it turns out, both are essentially right.
MOS technologies was created by disgruntled Motorola employees. the 6501 was pin compatible to the 6800. Motorola sued and won. So the 6502 is a new chip, but the design is based on the Motorola 6800.
Zilog is a similar story.
Cool…thanks for the Info.
That photo shows the sheetmetal from the original GP10 core locomotive. All of the above deck shetmetal and equipment was scrapped out. Only the main frame and truck frames were remanufactured and reused. CLCX5118 is the orange end-cab switcher/road switcher with the orange and white checkerboard stripe around the hood that shown in February 2007 issue of Trains magazine.
CLCX5118 was remanufactured from a GP9/GP10 locomotive that was originally built in 1954 by EMD as a GP9 Sr.No. 19764. The DDC-MTU diesel engine is complies with US EPA and CARB Tier-2 switcher duty service limits for stack emissions. Other data includes: truck centers are now 24 ft 2 inches; trucks are remanufactured Blomberg type B; OAL is approx. 50 feet; Weight is approx. 144 tons; Delivered HP for traction is 1750 HP; starting adhesion is up to 38%
The PLC master microprocessor is an Allen-Bradley ControlLogix 1756-L61 with 2 MB memory and running RSLogix 5000.
Any word on how many I/O’s? I noticed that A-B calls the ControlLogix controllers Programmable Automation Controllers.