RCE 101 BN vs ATSF versions in Tales of the Jointed Track

I was asked to explain the RCE equipment. I will gladly do so. RCE is an acronym, for Remote Controlled Equipment. To make it easy to understand, it is a consist of locomotives, controlled by radio signal. The railroads found a way to alleviate, a manned crew start. On an RCE or now DP (Distributive Power) you are your own head-end and Helper crew. The RCE’s were crude, to what is available now. I would say now with DP’s most locomotives ( EMD and GE ) are DP equipped. So, the terminal can grab any unit and set them up as a DP lead and DP link.

When I was in my fireman and early Engineer stage, the BN ran RCE’s on the Comanche Coal trains to Pueblo, and later on on Ore Trains to the CF&I. With the BN GE U-30-C’s were 5800 series (Lead RCE equipped) 5900 series were the remotes, or as we called them slaves. The 5300’s were just U-30-C”s On the EMD side SD-40-2’s 6800’s were the control, 6900’s were the remotes, 6300’s were the fill power. Now, remember the head end and the remotes, could be a mixture or any type of power. You needed a 5800 and 5900 to make an RCE or a 6800 and 6900 on the EMD side. They were dedicated Lead and Remote, you couldn’t mix ‘em. The DP’s that are operating now, whatever lead and link, Condition, and you are on the way.

BN vs ATSF RCE’s:

Although they were basically the same, BN and Santa Fe RCE’s were different. With the BN you were either all POWER or all DYNAMIC BRAKING. The Santa Fe allowed, like the DP’s today, what was called at that time “Independent Motoring” . With Independent Motoring, you could split as needed power on the head-end in dynamic, and the RCE consist in power. This makes cresting a grade easier, cause your setting up the lead consist for dynamic braking, and allowing the RCE or Mid consist, to still power tonnage over the summit before dialing off. There was Synchronous Mode or Independent Mode. Synchronous mimicked the lead consist, Independent, you had to control both. Me I went independent, out of town, and the Syncro up the hill. At Spruce, Independent to crest the grade. With the BN RCE’s regardless Coal or Ore, as you crested Palmer Lake, you throttle down, as you kept the RCE’s throttle 8, “Company Notch” lol . You throttled off, as the head end crested, MP 52 was the “Summit”. You throttled slowly to 1 notch and left it in one position power. Around MP 52.5-52.7, a minimum off the Push Button, was made. The RCE’s should be at the TOP at MP 52 or past County-Line Road.

Why was it left in Throttle one on the head end? Good question, If you went to idle, the RCE’s would go to idle, and you’d tentatively rip the train into, due to tonnage still coming over the top. Also remember too, that you are now bunching the slack ahead of the RCE’s and there are cars in a stretched condition, behind the RCE’s and the Caboose.

If the Santa Fe’s RCE’s were used, You could place in Independent motoring, keeping the RCE’s in Power and your head end going into dynamic brake. We never used the Santa Fe RCE equipment up on the Joint-Line. They were primarily Raton and Glorieta, pass coal power. Some also were utilized, on the Rustler Springs to Galveston, molten Sulfur runs. This was added to show the difference between the two.

The head end of the BN RCE set up. All are U-30-C’s, except for the last unit, which is
U-28-C. The lead unit is a 5800 series, with the data radios and electro-pneumatic magnet valves to control the air braking, for the RCE consist.

The difference here, is what? Notice the old F-7 or 9 B unit, that is converted into a RCE control unit. It has one function, it houses the air brake electo-pneumatic brake rack, and the receiving data radios. It does not provide power. The units in its control, receive power,dynamic throttle commands, and air braking commands as well. The fuel tank, has been drained and filled with cement, to make it around 150 tons. As the BN RCE’s evolved, the 5900’s series would hold the air braking manifolds and data radios.

The control console for the RCE’s , The BIG RED BUTTON, is the Emergency, for the brake valve function. The top green push button, air set, a one quick push, a minimum set off the valve. Continue to hold will reduce. The second green button you pulled, and caused a release. The yellow or maybe orange buttons, were your independent brake valves. We has control of the Head end.. These were for the RCE’s The bottom most was the Bail function and release function. Top would set up the independents. You could span with your hand, to set air and bail off the locomotives. The Console is the controller, the “dial” was for Sychonous or Independent of power and/or dynamic. Was a sanding function.. Was crude, but hey, Trackside in the Diesel age, Top notch. DP has evolved it even more. But this gives you an Idea of “PRE-TECHNOLOGY”.

Last updated October 15, 2018