Ticket To Ride

Remote Controlled Switching

Caught these vintage locomotives hard at work in the Sarcee yard in Calgary. Its CN 1438 that got me excited, as you don't see these vintage locomotives around to often, and actually doing work at that.

Seemed strange standing near these engines as the two units were being remote controlled by a person located elsewhere in the yard other than in either locomotive cab with a belt pack controlling 7530.
These remote control locomotives called an RCL (Remote Controlled Locomotive) is a locomotive that provides the motive power for a train.

An RCL differs from a conventional locomotive in that a remote control system has been installed in one or more locomotives within the train, which uses either a mechanical or radio transmitter and receiver system.

The locomotive is operated by a person not physically located at the controls within the confines of the locomotive cab.They have been in use for many years in the railroad industry, including industrial applications such as bulk material load-out, manufacturing, process and yard switching as was being done here on this day.

The systems are designed to be fail-safe so that if communication is lost the locomotive is brought to a stop automatically.
Needless to say, I was watching where I was shooting photos from trackside, as the train moved back and forth switching rail cars.

A closer look at CN 1438.....
https://www.jerryclement.ca/Outdoor-Pursuits/DawnThreader/i-d6FPgzG