Milwaukee Road Memories in HO Scale, Locotrol

The Milwaukee purchased Locotrol Equipment with its 2nd delivery of SD45's. GP40's were designated the Masters while the SD45's were Slaves, Not PC terms now a days but terminology is what it is. This was the precursor to todays Distributed Power Units (DPU's).
GP40 Master 2060 leads sisters 2063 and 2071 with FP45 5 East out of Avery. SD45 4009 is running remote Mid-train. The 2060 and 4009 were a mated pair and always ran together. The identifier for Locotrol is the twin firecracker antennas on the cab roof. While the equipment worked, it had issues in Mountainous areas do to radio signal loss between the Master and Slave in tunnels and the terrain in general. Today is a good day, nothing on the ground and the 4009 isn't on its roof surrounded by half its train.

[@randallrobertson3879]

Locotrol, if I remember correctly, was a radio telemetry system that allows the engineer in the lead loco to control the mid-train locomotive. Different from a helper engine, no crew required in the middle to control throttle/speed nor dynamic brake.

[@jerrywikstrom2431]

Correct. The early system as displayed here used analog radios, no digital like todays engines.

[@randallrobertson3879]

@@jerrywikstrom2431 yep, solid state old hat analog. The Milwaukee had repeater shacks on the higher elevations that were linked by microwave that helped to keep locotrol linked to the locomotives. My dad Jim most likely serviced them all.

[@derekalexander4030]

Very nice scene and train. Just found your channel and subscribed, number 402.

[@robertheroux2402]

Love the midtrain helper!

[@milepost4846]

Wow! Beautiful layout and train!

[@randallrobertson3879]

Did you know my dad, Jim Robertson, Electronic Maintainer Milwaukee Rd Rocky mountain division? He worked on locotrol, especially any Microwave installation. Noticed you have a red van just like his driving through Avery.

[@jerrywikstrom2431]

Unfortunately no. He sounds like a good storyteller. I just found this area fun to model, and away to keep history alive.

[@georgiasunbelt]

Awesome Scene…for that runby

[@jerrywikstrom2431]

Thanks Anthony

[@johnpetrovitz935]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@loupecci4901]

Very impressive. 4.0 outstanding.

[@jerrywikstrom2431]

Thank you.

[@rimodeler7963]

Enjoyed the video, Jerry. Thanks! Mike

[@kurtbeisner9068]

Another awesome video !! Thanks

[@jerrywikstrom2431]

Your Welcome! They are fun to make.

[@raquaro1]

Looks great! Nice layout!

[@jerrywikstrom2431]

Thanks, welcome to the Bitterroots.

[@chuckgilly]

In automotive terms, the master cylinder is the "Oppressor" and the slave cylinder is the "Oppressed". LOL

[@randysrockandrollrailroad8207]

Very cool 😊

[@jerrywikstrom2431]

Thank you.

[@IowaGrandpaTrain]

Nice work! How did you get the swayback in the Erie Lackawanna gondola?

[@jerrywikstrom2431]

Purely accidental. Sat infront of a window a little to long, refracted sunlight.

[@aviation1934]

Do you have your layout plans ? Cause I would one day like to make a layout like your layout

[@LMLRailfan]

Is that the Eagle Nest Tunnel?

[@jerrywikstrom2431]

No, generic representation of Loop Creek Canyon in Idaho. Ran out of space before ideas.

[@aviation1934]

Do you have your layout plans ? Cause I would one day like to make a layout like your layout

[@jerrywikstrom2431]

At present the answer is no. I designed it 20 years ago and the drawings got trashed. I would have to reverse engineer everything which currently isn't in the cards. I appreciate the interest in cloning though. Future idea when I find time. Thanks for the question.