Knower

Remote Control Is a Failure for Railroads

IT does sound a bit of a canned article and blaming RCO is a reach for sure, but remotes are cumbersome, assignments using them move less cars, and the implementation and maintainence costs far outweigh any savings. The RR's used the threat of widespread RCO to get the the two operating unions - trainmen and engineers - over a barrel in the last round of contract negotiations seeking concessions at the threat of job losses. In that application it worked out wonderfully in the RR's favor .