Western Railroad Discussion > SD40B-2 Yellow beast

Caught the remote control B unit coming into KCS Wylie yard to tie up for the day. They were done picking up old ties.

KCS 4594 will lead the 204 back to KCS Dallas yard.

DH

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At least it isn't a contractor in a Brandt Truck.

Pump

Nice pic's!
That "Yellow Beast" is a very interesting piece of maintenance equipment. I guess the remote operator just ride's there on the front porch. Why did KCS decide to plate over the window's? Anybody have a idea as to why? Thank's for posting,Bill

hiline Wrote:
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Why
> did KCS decide to plate over the window's? Anybody
> have a idea as to why?

To piss off the MOW crews in bad weather?

- Jeff

Maybe they don't operate it in inclement weather. Strange!!!

They let MOW operate RCL's on the KCS..... WOW

Removing those windows in the cab is a horrible idea. When you go into the locomotive to "link up", you can't see to read anything, and you couldn't see to read a switch list unless they have pretty good lighting in there. It's a dark cave in there and a horrible idea. I suppose it saves KCS a few bucks a year on maintenance but the inconvenience for the crew would hurt productivity and cost more in the long run.

I'm sure having plated over windows has more to do with existing union agreements on the TY/E side...

UPTRAIN Wrote:
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> At least it isn't a contractor in a Brandt Truck.

UP has their own Brandts. Where are they using contractor-Brandts?

MP555 Wrote:
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> UPTRAIN Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > At least it isn't a contractor in a Brandt
> Truck.
>
> UP has their own Brandts. Where are they using
> contractor-Brandts?


I didn't say anything about the UP using contractor Brandts, did I? I have, however, seen them on several railroads; BNSF, CN, and MNA, for starters, and yeah, they were contractors with some kind of railroad representative with them.

Pump

Are they operating it while standing on it? If so, they may as well be ten feet over inside the cab doing the same thing. It's like driving a car sitting on the hood or flying an airplane sitting on the wing. I've got to be missing something here...

Formerly KCS 683, one of the last white SD40-2s.

Rob

Fizzboy7 Wrote:
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> Are they operating it while standing on it? If
> so, they may as well be ten feet over inside the
> cab doing the same thing. It's like driving a
> car sitting on the hood or flying an airplane
> sitting on the wing. I've got to be missing
> something here...

I was thinking the same thing. I think safety wise,sitting in the cab would be safer.

Fizzboy7 Wrote:
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> Are they operating it while standing on it? If
> so, they may as well be ten feet over inside the
> cab doing the same thing. It's like driving a
> car sitting on the hood or flying an airplane
> sitting on the wing. I've got to be missing
> something here...

I was thinking the same thing.

Here a YT video of same train and i'm guessing the operator is inside the cab of track hoe. Sure wouldn't think it would be crew member riding the side/top of car. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr49gp6ePdA&feature=g-user



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/12 06:21 by TAFD00367.

It looks like in picture one, the operator can't maintain proper three point contact with the equipment he's riding on. Using both hands on the the control box. I agree, why not leave seats and windows for the crew to use?

Just a guess, but as a functioning locomotive with cab it would require a 2 man crew, engineer and conductor/fireman (whatever KCS calls the second man). Most railroads, at least in my area, have union agreements that keep Train and Engine service employees on the locomotives and MOW employees off the locomotives. This way, the locomotive can be classified as a piece of MOW equipment and so the train can operated by 1 man from the MOW department.
The savings would be seen in 1/2 the man hours and the ability to let the whole train+tie crane be operated by 1 man.

KSmitty Wrote:
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> Just a guess, but as a functioning locomotive with
> cab it would require a 2 man crew, engineer and
> conductor/fireman (whatever KCS calls the second
> man). Most railroads, at least in my area, have
> union agreements that keep Train and Engine
> service employees on the locomotives and MOW
> employees off the locomotives. This way, the
> locomotive can be classified as a piece of MOW
> equipment and so the train can operated by 1 man
> from the MOW department.
> The savings would be seen in 1/2 the man hours and
> the ability to let the whole train+tie crane be
> operated by 1 man.

You probably hit the nail on the head. Also if it is no longer classified as a locomotive, it would be exempt from 49 CFR 240 requirements.