LOCOTROL® Remote-Control Locomotive (RCL)

LOCOTROL® Remote-Control Locomotive (RCL) technologies enable a single operator on the mainline or in a yard to remotely control a heavy-haul locomotive using a handheld operator control unit (OCU) for scenarios such as set outs, pick-ups, and locomotive movements in yard. Building on the success of the Yard RCL and enabled by the new LOCOTROL® XA (Expanded Architecture) platform, the new RCL platform results in crew optimization, increased automation, and efficient train operations.

Benefits:

• Improve crew productivity
• Reduce car dwell time in yards
• Reduce manpower for switching operations
• Eliminate or reduce low-horse-power locomotive fleet
• Pave way for automation on mainlines and yards
• Proven product – Over 750 RCL systems deployed

Road RCL has a wide range of applications:

• A single operator can conduct local pick-ups and drop-offs between origin and destination and set-out bad order cars
• A single operator can bring stranded trains into congested yards if the road crews’ time expires
• Yard-crew member can hostel mainline power around the yard, conduct switching operations, and build the train for departure
• Mainline power can be used to build trains and conduct switching operations in the yard
• Mainline power can be used on the hump in the remote-control operation thus reducing need for low-horse-power fleet
• Road RCL can be utilized in slow-speed loading and unloading operations, reducing the use of road crews and leading to efficient operations