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| Rail Helper Unit Remote Control in Tunnels http://www.interceptradio.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=9552 |
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| Author: | chpalmer [ Fri Mar 04, 2022 7:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Rail Helper Unit Remote Control in Tunnels |
https://youtu.be/PRJLP-xTArg "For over 100 years helper engines required crews to operate them. In the 1980s the railroads got rid of cabooses (much to the chagrin of conductors and rear brakemen), replacing them with remote End Of Train Devices and they also began experimenting with remote helpers controlled from the lead unit but spotty radio signals caused a lot of problems including derailments caused by loss of communication with helpers and one of the real trouble spots was tunnels. In the 1990s radio technology had progressed to the point that remote controlled helpers became viable (much to the chagrin of the crews who once operated them) and within a couple of years were the norm. I still find myself wanting to wave at them! In the intervening years radio technology has progressed even more and issues with remote helpers, or Distributed Power Units, are virtually nonexistent. " |
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| Author: | mrk [ Sun Mar 06, 2022 6:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rail Helper Unit Remote Control in Tunnels |
Might get some more technical information from here that includes PTC, HOT/EOT, Meteorcomm, etc... https://tunnelradio.com/distributed-pow ... unication/ Also, UP experimented with DPU helper service back in the late 70's / early 80's with VHF. Old photos of UP power with a large ground plane and two older (and yet unknown manufacturer) VHF antennas on the roof of the cab were evident of this service. |
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| Author: | flatfoot [ Fri Sep 02, 2022 3:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rail Helper Unit Remote Control in Tunnels |
I am now dumber for watching this guys video. As a locomotive engineer that has operated in the longest and second longest tunnels in the US (Cascade and Flathead), the repeaters that are used for DP operations act just like any other simplex repeater. The engineer doesn't have to do anything, there is no "icon" that pops up on the screen. |
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| Author: | chpalmer [ Sat Sep 03, 2022 5:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rail Helper Unit Remote Control in Tunnels |
flatfoot wrote: I am now dumber for watching this guys video. Ive got to re-watch it now that I have some experience working on tunnel radio systems.. This guy was signal before retiring.. I will say that the tunnels he is talking about down south at Tehachapi are quite different than most of the other tunnels on any system since there are so many in close relation.. So to say you are dumber because of the way he explained one specific system might be a bit harsh. I am not aware of any Wabtec DPU systems up here. I can tell you that the DPU repeaters up here in WA look like old Daniels repeaters. I need to pull up the time tables for that region down there and see what kind of track that is.. Im curious if PTC radios are in place there or not. |
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