I ordered a copy of the Locomotive Book I saw in a railroad magazine. Very nice book, hard cover. Now the question. It was talking about some older engines being converted to remote control. I know some slug have the engine removed and just have the traction motor and use the power from the other engine to power the slugs traction motor. The book mentioned having engine disabled and fuel tank and tration motors removed from the remote control units. What moves the remote control unit?
UP (UPY 100 series) and CSX (9100’s & 9200’s) both have remote control units. The remote control unit is equipped with RC receivers and operates in multiple with a locomotive that is not RC-equipped. It is similar in principal to the Locotrol receiver cars on SR, CP and others from the 1960’s and 1970’s.
IINM CSX(for one) converted some older units into remote control cab cars where the locomotive was equipped with the Radio Control equipment and can control any unit it is MU’d to…the prime movers were deactivated and at that point the units were no longer technically “locomotives” as they were not self propelled anymore (the traction motors were removed. Similiar installations have been done with old cabooses. There have also been Slug units modified as RC control masters…
Basically, the concept makes any locomotive into a remote control unit, at a fraction of the cost, and without removing any locomotives from the general pool. Hook up whatever is available today to the RC master and away you go!