Abstract: A control unit for controlling a rolling stock includes a user interface. The control unit is configured to receive, via the user interface, a plurality of user inputs corresponding to a plurality of users servicing the rolling stock, determine whether at least one user of the plurality of users remains servicing the rolling stock, and if at least one user of the one or more users remains servicing the rolling stock, prevent unauthorized movement of the rolling stock. Other example control units, computer systems including one or more control units, and computer-implemented methods for preventing unauthorized movement of a rolling stock are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems, methods and devices related to remote control locomotive training. In an exemplary embodiment, a remote control locomotive training system includes a locomotive control unit coupled to a locomotive and configured to control operation of the locomotive, and a trainee operator control unit in wireless communication with the locomotive control unit. The trainee operator control unit includes a first wireless interface to transmit one or more commands to the locomotive control unit. The system also includes a trainer operator control unit in wireless communication with the trainee operator control unit via a second wireless interface. The trainer operator control unit is configured to monitor the trainee operator control unit by receiving messages from the trainee operator control unit indicative of the one or more commands transmitted from the trainee operator control unit to the locomotive control unit.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of devices, systems, and methods related to tracking location of operator control units for locomotives. In an exemplary embodiment, an operator control unit includes a user interface configured to receive one or more commands from an operator for controlling a locomotive. The operator control unit also includes receiver configured to receive location information of the operator control unit, and a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is configured to transmit command data corresponding to the one or more commands and location data corresponding to the location information to a machine control unit on the locomotive.

Abstract: An automated speed control system for a locomotive having a tractive effort mechanism for moving the locomotive along a track and a braking mechanism for reducing the locomotive's speed along the track. The system including a locomotive controller that includes a memory to store computer-executable instructions, and a processor in communication with the memory to execute the instructions to retrieve one or more track grade maps each indicative of a grade of at least a portion of the track along which the locomotive is travelling, retrieve train makeup, obtain a maximum distance to a specified stopping point of the locomotive along the track, and dynamically calculate a speed limit for movement of the locomotive along the track, according to the retrieved track grade map, retrieved train makeup data, and obtained maximum distance to the specified stopping point.

Abstract: An example locomotive consist control system includes a locomotive controller located on a locomotive consist to control movement of the locomotive consist along one or more tracks, and a field operator control unit in communication with the locomotive controller. The field operator control unit is configured to control movement of the locomotive consist via the locomotive controller. The system also includes a yard supervisory controller configured to monitor a location of the locomotive consist along the one or more tracks, and a remote operator controller in communication with the yard supervisory controller and the locomotive controller. The remote operator controller is configured to transmit speed and direction orders from the yard supervisory controller to the locomotive controller to control movement of the locomotive consist.

Abstract: An example remote control locomotive (RCL) system includes a consist having at least one locomotive and at least one pneumatic brake pipe, and an RCL controller. The RCL controller includes a memory configured to store at least one pressurization reference including correspondence relationships between pneumatic brake pipe pressurization time periods and pneumatic brake pipe air volumes, and a processor configured to monitor a time period to pressurize the at least one pneumatic brake pipe of the consist. The processor is also configured to compare the monitored time period to pressurize the at least one pneumatic brake pipe to the pressurization reference, and determine a fault or a number of locomotives in the consist according to the comparison of the monitored time period to pressurize the at least one pneumatic brake pipe to the pressurization reference.

Abstract: An example automated locomotive spotting system includes a locomotive having a tractive effort mechanism for moving the locomotive along a track, and a locomotive controller configured to control the tractive effort mechanism to move the locomotive along the track. The locomotive controller includes an odometer configured to monitor a distance traversed by the locomotive along the track. The locomotive controller is configured to receive a requested spotting distance value, and initiate movement of the locomotive along the track via the tractive effort mechanism. The locomotive controller is also configured to monitor, by the odometer, the distance traversed by the locomotive along the track, and inhibit movement of the locomotive in response to the monitored odometer distance indicating the locomotive has traversed the requested spotting distance.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems, methods and devices related to remote control locomotive training. In an exemplary embodiment, a remote control locomotive training system includes a locomotive control unit coupled to a locomotive and configured to control operation of the locomotive, and a trainee operator control unit in wireless communication with the locomotive control unit. The trainee operator control unit includes a first wireless interface to transmit one or more commands to the locomotive control unit. The system also includes a trainer operator control unit in wireless communication with the trainee operator control unit via a second wireless interface. The trainer operator control unit is configured to monitor the trainee operator control unit by receiving messages from the trainee operator control unit indicative of the one or more commands transmitted from the trainee operator control unit to the locomotive control unit.

Abstract: A system includes at least one train having one or more sensors and a device remote from the at least one train. The device is configured to communicate with the at least one train via one or more networks, collect data from the one or more sensors of the at least one train at a plurality of different locations in a defined area, and generate a map of the one or more tracks based on the data collected from the one or more sensors of the at least one train at the plurality of different locations in the defined area. Other example systems and computer-implemented methods of mapping one or more railroad tracks in a defined area are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems, methods and devices related to remote control locomotive training. In an exemplary embodiment, a remote control locomotive training system includes a locomotive control unit coupled to a locomotive and configured to control operation of the locomotive, and a trainee operator control unit in wireless communication with the locomotive control unit. The trainee operator control unit includes a first wireless interface to transmit one or more commands to the locomotive control unit. The system also includes a trainer operator control unit in wireless communication with the trainee operator control unit via a second wireless interface. The trainer operator control unit is configured to monitor the trainee operator control unit by receiving messages from the trainee operator control unit indicative of the one or more commands transmitted from the trainee operator control unit to the locomotive control unit.

Abstract: A control unit for controlling a rolling stock includes a user interface. The control unit is configured to receive, via the user interface, a plurality of user inputs corresponding to a plurality of users servicing the rolling stock, determine whether at least one user of the plurality of users remains servicing the rolling stock, and if at least one user of the one or more users remains servicing the rolling stock, prevent unauthorized movement of the rolling stock. Other example control units, computer systems including one or more control units, and computer-implemented methods for preventing unauthorized movement of a rolling stock are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of devices, systems, and methods related relaying voice messages to operator control units of a locomotive. In an exemplary embodiment, an operator control unit generally includes a user interface configured to receive one or more commands from an operator for controlling a locomotive, a wireless communication interface configured to transmit data to and receive data from a locomotive control unit of the locomotive, and memory configured to store multiple voice messages corresponding to the locomotive. The operator control unit also includes a processor configured to receive a voice message number from the locomotive control unit of the locomotive via the wireless communication interface, retrieve one of the multiple stored voice messages from memory corresponding to the received voice message number, and transmit the retrieved voice message to an earpiece of the operator via a wired transmission and/or near-field wireless transmission.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems, methods and devices related to extended operator control unit displays. In an exemplary embodiment, an extended operator control unit display system includes an operator control unit in wireless communication with a locomotive control unit coupled to a locomotive to control operation of the locomotive. The operator control unit includes a first wireless interface to transmit one or more commands to the locomotive control unit, and an auxiliary wireless interface. The system also includes a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device has a user interface and a mobile wireless interface in wireless communication with the auxiliary wireless interface of the operator control unit. The mobile computing device is configured to receive status information data from the operator control unit and display the received status information data on the user interface.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems, methods and devices related to operator control unit base VOIP communication. In an exemplary embodiment, an operator control unit based VOIP communication system includes an operator control unit in wireless communication with a locomotive control unit coupled to a locomotive to control operation of the locomotive. The operator control unit includes a first wireless interface to transmit one or more commands to the locomotive control unit, and an auxiliary wireless interface. The system also includes a microphone in communication with the operator control unit. The operator control unit is configured to receive voice signals from the microphone, and to transmit voice data corresponding to the received voice signals via the auxiliary wireless interface. The voice data is transmitted by the auxiliary wireless interface though a railyard infrastructure wireless network using a voice over internet protocol (VOIP).

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems, methods and devices related to remote control locomotive training. In an exemplary embodiment, a remote control locomotive training system includes a locomotive control unit coupled to a locomotive and configured to control operation of the locomotive, and a trainee operator control unit in wireless communication with the locomotive control unit. The trainee operator control unit includes a first wireless interface to transmit one or more commands to the locomotive control unit. The system also includes a trainer operator control unit in wireless communication with the trainee operator control unit via a second wireless interface. The trainer operator control unit is configured to monitor the trainee operator control unit by receiving messages from the trainee operator control unit indicative of the one or more commands transmitted from the trainee operator control unit to the locomotive control unit.

Abstract: A system includes at least one train having one or more sensors and a device remote from the at least one train. The device is configured to communicate with the at least one train via one or more networks, collect data from the one or more sensors of the at least one train at a plurality of different locations in a defined area, and generate a map of the one or more tracks based on the data collected from the one or more sensors of the at least one train at the plurality of different locations in the defined area. Other example systems and computer-implemented methods of mapping one or more railroad tracks in a defined area are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems and methods for monitoring locomotive wheel size. In an exemplary embodiment, a system generally includes at least one distance measurement device coupled to a locomotive and configured to measure a distance to a rail when a locomotive wheel is positioned on the rail. The system is configured to use the distance to the rail as measured by the at least one distance measurement device to determine a diameter of the locomotive wheel.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of devices, systems, and methods related to tracking location of operator control units for locomotives. In an exemplary embodiment, an operator control unit includes a user interface configured to receive one or more commands from an operator for controlling a locomotive. The operator control unit also includes receiver configured to receive location information of the operator control unit, and a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is configured to transmit command data corresponding to the one or more commands and location data corresponding to the location information to a machine control unit on the locomotive.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems and methods for safety locking of operator control units for remote control locomotives. In an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a machine control unit located on a locomotive to control operation of the locomotive, a primary operator control unit including a primary network interface configured to transmit received input commands to the machine control unit to control motion of the locomotive, and a secondary operation control unit including a secondary network interface and a secondary input interface. The secondary operator control unit is configured to operate in a secondary role that does not include motion control of the locomotive, and the secondary operator control unit is configured to transmit a lock command to the machine control unit to inhibit movement of the locomotive in response to receiving a lock command input at the secondary input interface.

Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of devices, systems, and methods related to tracking location of operator control units for locomotives. In an exemplary embodiment, an operator control unit includes a user interface configured to receive one or more commands from an operator for controlling a locomotive. The operator control unit also includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to receive location information of the operator control unit, and a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is configured to transmit command data corresponding to the one or more commands and location data corresponding to the location information to a machine control unit on the locomotive.