I’ve noticed from press releases on remote controlled switchers that the NS does not use them exstensivly. Does anyone familiar with NS know if that is true? If so why? Do they want others to pay the costs of being pioneers so they can learn from their mistakes? I noticed on the sales and marketing side the NS was often slow to add new technology, such as PCs in the 1980s, while always rating first in our customer satisfaction surveys. Is that conservative approach going on with remote control?
Norfolk Southern has always been careful about new tech. They still will not order AC locomotives the only ones they have they got were from the Conrail merger the SD80MAC’s and look for those to leave soon. I know of a trucking company in my area that has 100 trucks and the boss still figures out the balance sheets at the end of the year with a pencil and paper. Sometimes the newest is not the best.
not true the ns has several remote control units the men and women that run the units make sure they wont work ( to a point) and is some places we have got them banned . the other issue is the ns is and has been getting ac traction motor units the 7500 series and 2700 series are ac traction motors
The NS 7500’s are all DC locomotives.
The 7500’s and 2700’s are DC units.
I find it interesting that CN and NS refuse to buy AC traction locomotives for their unit trains, yet their operating ratios are much better than any of the other railroads.
One reason on the operating ratios could also be the fact those 2 RR are also the best managed out there. I for one would put Goode against any CEO out there.