RCE's the Precursor to the Current DP system used today in Tales of the Jointed Track

I wrote about this a while back, while I was promoted and a fireman. Truth be known I operated em, when they failed, while in the training program.

LOCOTROL the early Distrubuted Power in Tales of the Jointed Track

Some of you know about the old BN RCE’s and associated trains. You as BN or AT&SF engineers have operated them. Some had an RCE car, which was a converted F-7 or F-9 B unit. This was ballasted to a certain weight, I believe it was 125 tons or more. These roamed the system till the 5900 series U-30-C’s were equipped to be receivers.

This is what they termed at that time as Masters BN 6800 and 5800 series and Slaves BN 6900 and 5900 series. The 5300 U-30-C’s were just basic Coal and/or freight units. Plus I have had SD-40-2’s F-45’s and U-28-C’s back there in mid consist. This is an older BN Coal Train ( cars look like the Comanches PSCX Darby Corp was the builder) with an RCE car. This was taken just north of Evans Ave. South Denver Interlocking will be the next station.

The head end consist I took in late 1974

The RCE consist about 75 to 80 cars back

Also this is a picture of the RCE Air console and Air Brake Push Buttons..

The Big Round Circle is for Emergency braking.

Then the Top green button is the Automatic Air set.

The green button below, is a flanged on that you pulled toward you to release the air.

The yellow button below is the independent air brake set.

The yellow button below that was the independent release and/or actuation feature to bail off the air from the locomotives.

You spanned your hand on the set button and the bail off button. A first push made the minimum set then after that you could bring more of a reduction in.

The basic quick over look on the power console, allowed you to put the RCE’s into power or Dynamic braking. You could operate in synchronized mode or operate the remote consist independently in power only on the BN.

The Santa Fe had “independent motoring” where the head end could be in dynamic braking while applying power on the RCE’s. This was for cresting heavy grades.

There was also an air feed valve cut out, for air tests and insuring the train was together after a release. When the caboose called that the air was releasing, you cut the RCE feed valve in. This feature was used only when stopped for a long period of time.