Remote controlled 08's

Robin1966 · 20 Oct 2017

I've just seen mention of what seems to have been an experiment with a number of 08 shunters fitted with remote control. I know nothing about this, can anyone tell me more about it? Cheers.

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mallard · 20 Oct 2017

According to scant details here and on Wikipedia, the former 08267 was used to trial a radio control system around 1979/80. The loco was scrapped in 1981.

A number of 08s were fitted with radio control equipment under EWS (from what I can tell), I can find mention of their use at Cardiff Tidal Sidings, Port Talbot, Scunthorpe, Redcar and Mossend. I'm not sure to what extent (if any) this was related to the BR experiment. The additional warning lights fitted do appear to be similar...

AndrewE · 20 Oct 2017

Half of each of the BR class 13s was a remote control class 8! Hard-wired to the bit with the cab, maybe, but still remotely controlled...

83G/84D · 21 Oct 2017

A remote control 08 or 09 was used a few years ago at Fowey (Cornwall). The experiment was not a success however as the equipment was unreliable.

Ploughman · 21 Oct 2017

08495 is an ex remote control loco.
It is now in use regularly on the NYMR currently based at Newbridge yard for use by the PW Dept.
It is still fitted with added lighting but not sure what else is still on board or what has been removed.

Ploughman · 21 Oct 2017

Arrival condition 23rd Dec 2016.

Current condition Sept 2017.

37038 · 21 Oct 2017

Still got all the kit in it. From what I was told by the lads on shed, significant changes were made to the loco in order to fit the RC equipment which would be costly to undo

theironroad · 21 Oct 2017

Nice before and after pics. Good job.

jopsuk · 21 Oct 2017

in the USA, where marshalling yards are still a significant thing, they commonly use remote control shunting locos, controlled from the tower. But then they also on long trains use mid and tail end locos with the control signals transmitted via radio

najaB · 21 Oct 2017

jopsuk said:
in the USA, where marshalling yards are still a significant thing, they commonly use remote control shunting locos, controlled from the tower.

Just to be different, as always, they call them classification yards. It does beg the question though why the technology didn't really seem to work over here.

ainsworth74 · 21 Oct 2017

najaB said:
Just to be different, as always, they call them classification yards. It does beg the question though why the technology didn't really seem to work over here.

One thing that springs to mind is that freight operations over there are utterly vast in comparison to our own. I can easily see it being cost effective to develop and deploy the technology on the scale that a Class One US Railroad would be operating compared to the much smaller scale of operation that we had then and now.

ilkestonian · 21 Oct 2017

I think I read a while back that one issue with RC 08s was that when remotely driven there could be a lack of finnesse, at least in part due to the loss of feedback as to what the loco was doing when the driver (controller?) was not on the footplate.

This lead to wheels moving on their axles. Not a happy event for six coupled locos, presumably bent rods or related damage would then be a real problem.

Cowley · 21 Oct 2017

83G/84D said:
A remote control 08 or 09 was used a few years ago at Fowey (Cornwall). The experiment was not a success however as the equipment was unreliable.

The image in my mind is of a driver chasing an 09 down the quay frantically pressing buttons and wishing it was an 08 so that he might have a chance of catching up with it.
There's a Thomas the Tank Engine story ready to go right there.

83G/84D · 22 Oct 2017

There's always the chance it could run away out of control and end up in the water I suppose.

jopsuk · 22 Oct 2017

najaB said:
Just to be different, as always, they call them classification yards. It does beg the question though why the technology didn't really seem to work over here.

Distance and scale. That's what killed the (non container) mixed fright train in this country. With the distances involved marshalling makes no economic sense in GB, especially with the scandal of v.cheap HGV road transport (effectively hugely subsidised given the damage artics do to the roads versus the direct taxation on them). In the US they're moving freight huge distances, often on single track lines, and there's very little passenger traffic to fit around. So long mixed freight trains trundling around, with lengthy stops at yards, makes sense.

Bishopstone · 22 Oct 2017

That moment you realise you fitted AA batteries from Pound Saver in the remote control unit, rather than Duracell; and the throttle is open, but the joystick is suddenly unresponsive...

najaB · 22 Oct 2017

jopsuk said:
Distance and scale...

Thanks, though I was speaking to the technology of radio control, rather than marshalling/classification yards.

EAD · 22 Oct 2017

Just wanted to point out other European countries went in for radio controlled shunting in a big way e.g. Germany. Is all old and well proven technology now having been rolled out in the late 80s there. A couple of youtube videos showing it in action.

Here in Brandenburg:

and in Munich Hbf (main station) here

jopsuk · 22 Oct 2017

najaB said:
Thanks, though I was speaking to the technology of radio control, rather than marshalling/classification yards.

To a certain extent, they're linked. The lack of marshalling/classification meant no need to deploy on a large scale for shunting (though clearly it was used here) and with the short freight trains, locos in multiple on them can easily be connected by cables whilst the even shorter passenger trains can easily pass a control signal from one end to the other- originally through the lighting circuits.

randyrippley · 22 Oct 2017

I can remember an article in Modern Railways years ago about coal MGR trains which had 2xclass 20 at the head, and another class 20 mid train (placed there to reduce snap on the couplings)
The article stated the mid-train loco was radio controlled and I always assumed that was direct remote control, but now I'm wondering if they meant driver-to-driver radio.
Anyone know?

Remote controlled 08's

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