AAR Spectra remote head pictures

GP-38 · Post by **GP-38** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:17 am

My appologies for the long wait. Welcome aboard UP AC44 #6156, formerly Southern Pacific #108. The overhead panel seems to harbor two Spectras, correct?

To a point. Closer inspection reveals the four screwholes (sans screws!) previously mentioned. Upon opening the panel, we see a lot less than expected.

Case solved. They DO exist!

Post by Pj » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:28 am

Looks like common "we are on fire" GE wiring in there

Can't say I have ever seen a dual head RR spectra installed before. Pretty snazzy.

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 5:13 am

Well i need to take some pic of a Dual head x9000 install in a 1940 ge 80 tonner

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 3:58 pm

Billy, are you saying that the right side of the cab overhead houses the whole radio? In other words, is this a dual head, or two seperate radios?

GP-38 · Post by **GP-38** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 11:34 pm

Oh I suppose it could be possible that you could put another whole radio in the left side, but in this case it was just a remote head. (Notice in the bottom picture the plugs for external microphone and remote cable.) On the right/engineer's side, there was a complete AAR Spectra. On the left/conductor's side, the panel I opened, it was a remote head with no radio. And yeah, the wiring could use a zip tie or twenty.

I think Southern Pacific went overboard with these. Not even I am so lazy that I can't get up and walk over to the engineer's side to change the channel if need be. The microphone on the conductor's side is a good idea, for obvious reasons. Don't even get me started on DTMF mics in locomotives. Absolutely pointless!

Edit: Sorry. To answer more to-the-point, yes. The whole radio will always* be on the engineer's side, in one form or another. Depending on control configuration, for AAR upright stands, it may be mounted above the airbrake stand, in the airbrake stand, or in rare cases, on the side of the airbrake stand. For desktop control stands, they usually go where they are pictured in this thread, in the overhead panel. Sometimes, they will go on top of the left side of the desk. I've seen one mounted IN the desk, the picture is in one of these threads if you can find it.

*The one time I saw a remote head on the engineer's side, and it was the ONLY radio control head in the cab, was on a Norfolk Southern SD-60. It was the brand-new AAR Astro, so God only knows where they hid the actual radio.

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 4:08 am

Actually, I can see good reason to put a head on the conductors side. I don't know if this is FRA rule or just 'our' rule, but I think it is FRA rule that says that any track permits, special orders, etc. that require a form to be filled out must be done by someone other than the engineer if the train is moving. I'll agree, it's still pretty lazy, but thats probably the reason.

kd6kml · Post by **kd6kml** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:43 pm

DTMF mics useless in locomotives? I think not. We have switches that operate from DTMF commands. No more throwing switches by hand. They have a recoded voice to announce "Switch XX lined for main/siding".

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:42 pm

Norfolk Southern has a few 'remote controlled' switches around here, too. They also use DTMF to 'activate' different leased-line based radios to talk to a specific dispatcher. I would, however, guess that he is calling them 'useless' because the keypad on the radio's face is capable of DTMF functions. Why, the conductor may have to actually get up off his a$$ and take a step to 'tone up' the dispatcher! How dare you expect him to actually do something!

GP-38 · Post by **GP-38** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 11:13 pm

To KD6KML: Those switches sound neat. Which road are you referring to? But yeah, I know DTMF has many cool functions in railroading. We have some crossings that can be called to activate from the DTMF pad. Down at our interchange with the UP in Black Butte, CA we have yard lighting that is turned on and off via DTMF.

To KF4SQB: Hey now!

Seriously, you were correct on two counts. Any conductor worth his salt (I would like to think myself included) can get up off his ass to change the channel, tone up, etc. from the nifty keypad found on the face of every AAR Motorola Spectra/Astro. Thus, my opinion that DTMF locomotive mics are pointless. Also, it is in the General Code of Operating Rules that an engineer must not copy track permits, track warrants, special orders, slow orders, radio speed restrictions, any other general mandates, yadda yadda while the engine is moving if it would interfere with safe operation, thus my opinion that a PLAIN microphone on the conductor's side is a good idea.

kf4sqb · Post by **kf4sqb** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:13 am

Yeah, I forgot about the signal we have, only one so far, that can be activated via DTMF. Seem strange that I would forget that, considering that's what I do for the railroad! Also, no offence meant by the 'lazy conductor' comments. It was meant in the light that you appear to have taken it: as a joke.