First DPUs

[Railfan1]

Who and when were the first DPUs used? I know Southern ran mid-train “slave” locomotives. This does not include push-pull operations.

[chad_thomas]

The first time I remember hearing of DPU operations it was in the Blue Mountains on the UP. The old locotroll & locotroll2 with the masters & slaves were different then DPU

[nanaimo73]

The old locotroll & locotroll2 with the masters & slaves were different then DPU

Good Morning Chad

I think the masters and slave locomotives were Locotrol, while locotroll are flaming GE’s. [:D]

You are right about the Blue Mountains for the GE-Harris Locotrol III

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1215/is_n3_v197/ai_18135866

[Anonymous]

Who and when were the first DPUs used? I know Southern ran mid-train “slave” locomotives. This does not include push-pull operations.

First Locotrol was tested on SRY GP9s in 1963. The first production Locotrol was installed on SRY in 1965. KCS was the second customer, with GP40 lead units and SD45 slave units. Santa Fe installed it in 1967 on York Canyon coal trains. Union Pacific installed it in 1968 in two SD45s and a DD35A/DD35 set, ultimately adding it to 19 SD45 masters and 18 SD45 remotes.

Source is Don Selby, the designer of Locotrol, and Don Strack (utahrails.net)

S. Hadid

[beaulieu]

Who and when were the first DPUs used? I know Southern ran mid-train “slave” locomotives. This does not include push-pull operations.

First Locotrol was tested on SRY GP9s in 1963. The first production Locotrol was installed on SRY in 1965. KCS was the second customer, with GP40 lead units and SD45 slave units. Santa Fe installed it in 1967 on York Canyon coal trains. Union Pacific installed it in 1968 in two SD45s and a DD35A/DD35 set, ultimately adding it to 19 SD45 masters and 18 SD45 remotes.

Source is Don Selby, the designer of Locotrol, and Don Strack (utahrails.net)

S. Hadid

For KCS substitute MILW (or CMStP&P). And of course the normal abbreviations used for the Southern Railway was either SR or their reporting marks SOU. SRY belongs to the Southern Railway of British Columbia.