Control car (rail)

For other uses, see Control cab.

Modern German InterCity Steuerwagen cab car.

A control car, control trailer or driving trailer is a generic term for a non-powered railroad (US) or railway (UIC) vehicle that can control operation of a train from the end opposite to the position of the locomotive. They can be used with diesel or electric motive power, allowing push-pull operation without the use of an additional locomotive. They can also be used with a power car or a railcar. In a few cases control cars were used with steam locomotives, especially in Germany and France (see article Voiture État à 2 étages).

In the US, cab cars are control cars similar to regular passenger car, but with a full driver's compartment built into one or both ends. They can be very similar to regular railcars, to the point of including a gangway between cars so that they could be used in the middle of a passenger train like a regular car if necessary. European railways used such equipment since the 1920s. In the United States they appeared for the first time in the 1960s. In the UK, driving trailers may have one or two driving cabs.

Trains operating with a locomotive at one end and a control car at the other do not require the locomotive to run around to the opposite end of the train when reversing direction at a terminus. Control cars can carry passengers, baggage, mail or a combination thereof, and may, when used together with diesel locomotives, contain an engine-generator set to provide head end power.

In addition to the driver's cab, which has all the controls and gauges necessary for remotely operating the locomotive, control cars usually have a horn, whistle, bell, or plough (as appropriate), and all of the lights that would normally be on a locomotive. They must also be fitted with all necessary communication and safety systems like GSM-R or ETCS.

Control method

The classic control method was a multiple unit cable with jumpers between cars. In North America and Ireland a standard AAR 27-wire cable is used, in other countries cables with up to 61 wires can be found. A more recent method is to control the train through a Time-Division Multiplexed (TDM) connection, which usually works with 2 (protected) wires.

North America

Some commuter rail agencies in the United States routinely use cab cars in place of regular passenger coaches on trains. However, with commuter agencies such as Metra, these cars make the train less aerodynamic. The Chicago and North Western Railway had 42 control cabs built by Pullman-Standard in 1960, which eliminated the need for its trains or locomotives to be turned around. It was an outgrowth of multiple-unit operation that was already common on diesel locomotives of the time. The Agence métropolitaine de transport uses control cars on all its trains except its electric multiple units which run as double ended semipermanently coupled three car rakes.

A monorail cab car in use on the Walt Disney World Monorail System.

During the mid-1990s, as push-pull operations became more common in the United States, cab-cars came under criticism for providing less protection to engine crews during grade crossing accidents. This has been addressed by providing additional reinforcing in cab cars. This criticism became stronger after the 2005 Glendale train crash, in which a Metrolink train collided with a Jeep Grand Cherokee at a level crossing. The train was traveling with its cab car in the front, and the train jackknifed. Eleven people were killed in the accident, and about 180 were injured.

An Amtrak Downeaster NPCU in Brunswick, Maine

In early 2015, another collision occurred in Oxnard, California involving one of Metrolink's improved "Rotem" cabcars at the front of the train hitting a truck at a crossing. The truck driver left his vehicle before the impact, but the collision resulted in multiple car derailments, jacknifing, injuries, and the death of the engineer.

Converted locomotives

From the 1970s until 1999, the Long Island Rail Road used a number of older locomotives converted to "power packs". The original prime movers were replaced with 600 horsepower (450 kW) engines/generators solely for supplying Head End Power or HEP with the engineer's control stand left intact. Locomotives converted included Alco FA-1s and FA-2s, EMD F7s and one F9. Ontario's GO Transit had a similar program for EMD FP7s.

Amtrak developed their Non-powered Control Units (NPCUs) by removing the prime mover, main alternator, and traction motors from surplus F40 locomotives. The control stand was left in place, as were equipment allowing horn, bell & headlight operation. A floor and roll-up side-doors were then installed to allow for baggage service leading to the nickname "cab-baggage cars" or "cabbages". The F40s rebuilt into NPCUs are identified by their former three-digit road number with the number 90 added (i.e., former locomotive #250 is now NPCU #90250)."

Six NPCUs rebuilt for Cascades service in the Pacific Northwest (#90250-90253, #90230 and #90340) do not have the roll-up side doors, because the TALGO sets on which they operate have a baggage car as part of the trainset.

NPCU #90208 received a special veterans appreciation scheme in September 2015.

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  Northstar Line cab car (BiLevel Coach) in Elk River, Minnesota

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  Pacific Surfliner cab car in Carlsbad, California

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  NJ Transit Comet V Cab Car in Bay Head, New Jersey

Europe

In Britain, this type of car is called a driving trailer and mostly this term is also used on the Continent. There are many examples of this type of vehicle in operation in Europe.

Austria

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  Austrian NPZ EMU Steuerwagen of the Montafonerbahn in Schruns

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  The Steuerwagen of the Austrian CityShuttle in Lower Austria

Belgium

M6 double-deck driving carriage at Brussels-North railway station.

SNCB make extensive use of push-pull working. Trains are powered by class 27 or class 13 electric locomotives and are operated in one direction from a driving carriage.

Finland

Cab car Edo at Pasila.

The VR fleet includes 12 cab cars (Finnish: ohjausvaunu), classified as Edo.

France

Corail driving carriage at Strasbourg station.

The Corail fleet includes 28 voitures-pilote, classified as B⁶Dux.

Germany

The first German attempts to use control cars (German: Steuerwagen) and remote control-equipped steam locomotives were before the Second World War by the Deutsche Reichsbahn (DRB). The driver's control instructions were transmitted from the control car to the locomotive by a Chadburn-type machine telegraph (similar to engine order telegraphs on ships). The order had to be immediately acknowledged and implemented by the automatic firebox controllers. This indirect control was judged as impractical and unsafe because, although the driver controlled the brake directly, the danger existed that in an emergency the locomotive would continue supplying "push" power for some time and possibly derail the train.

Attempts to use electric locomotives (beginning with a converted E 04 class model) were more promising, as the engine driver could control the locomotive directly. World War II interrupted the test program, despite good successes. Only after the war would control car operation be slowly accepted, when locomotives and suitably equipped cars became available.

The length of train consists in push-pull operations was originally limited to 10 cars for reasons of guidance dynamics. A speed limit of 120 km/h was also imposed, rising to 140 km/h in 1980. This was not an operational hindrance, as push-pull trains were generally initially used in six-car commuter trains.

Only since the mid-1990s have long-distance trains, which can have up to 14 cars and travel at speeds of 200 km/h, been operated with control cars. A special circumstance is the ICE 2, which may operate with the control car in the lead at up to 250 km/h on the recently built high-speed lines.

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  ICE2 Steuerwagen at Cologne-Bonn Airport

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  Different livery on a double-decker German Steuerwagen

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  German InterRegio livery in Heidelberg

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  Modern German version in an older livery

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  Frontal view of the German model

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  A German commuter train clearly showing the locomotive driving from the rear

Ireland

Mark 4 DVT at Limerick Colbert Station in 2006

Iarnród Eireann operates two classes of push-pull trainsets, each with its own Control Car:

• De Dietrich (Enterprise service) with driving cab containing EMD control stand, luggage compartment and passenger seating. On this set, train heating was supplied from the locomotive Head End Power System, but this led to reliability issues on the 201 Class locomotives, so Mark 3 Generator vans have replaced one of the De Dietrich standard class coaches in the formation since September 2012.
  • Numbered 9001 - 9004
• CAF (Mark 4) with driving cab containing replica locomotive control stand, luggage compartment and twin engine / generator sets for train heating. No passenger seating is provided.
  • Numbered 4001 - 4008

All Mark 4 Control Cars have full-sized driving cabs with EMD locomotive type power and brake controls. Locomotive control is by means of an AAR system, modified by Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) to include control of train doors and operate with 201 Class locomotives.

Iarnród Éireann formerly operated Mark 3 Control Cars from 1980 until 2009:

• Mark 3s with driving cab containing replica locomotive control stand, luggage compartment, under-slung Cummins engine / generator set for train heating and passenger seating.
  • Numbered 6101 - 6105, converted from Mark 3 InterCity cars for suburban push-pull services. These were withdrawn in September 2009 following the introduction of 22000 Class InterCity Railcars.

Italy

In Italy, the first push-pull trains began to run after World War II.

At the time there were no systems to actually remote command the rear locomotive, so an engineer had to take place in it and command traction, following instructions (via an apposite intercom) given by the other driver, who remained in the front car, commanding brakes and sighting signals. This lasted until the adoption of the 78-wire cable in the 1970s, which enabled full remote commanding from control cars.

Today push-pull trains are very common, and different kinds of control cars are employed:

• UIC Z1 control cars.
• MDVC type control cars, with aerodynamic or communicating cabin.
• Piano ribassato type control cars, with flat, refurbished E464-like or communicating cabin.
• Doppio Piano two floors control cars.
• UIC-X type control cars.
• Vivalto type control car.

These types allow full remote control of any Italian locomotive supplied with standard 78-wire cable, except for UIC Z1, which are used on IC services and are only able to command class E.402 locomotives, and MDVC diesel specific version, usable only with class D.445 diesel locomotives.
The same driving commands are used for both rheostatic and electronic locomotives, but their meanings change.

Vivalto type control cars, at this time, can only remote command Class E.464 and Class E.632 locomotives, because of software issues, tough are able to command other locomotive types. Vivalto cars can also use TCN remote control cable.

Driving cars can be recognized because of the "np" in their identification number and usually also have a dedicated compartment for bicycle and luggage transportation.

There also are specific EMU/DMU non-motorized units control cars, which (in Trenitalia) are classified as Le / Ln XXX; no significant difference between them and motorized units, except the lack of traction motors.

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  Piano Ribassato driving carriage with E.464-like cabin

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  Doppio piano driving carriage at Udine station in 1997

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  Control car UIC-Z1

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  Double-decker driving carriage Vivalto

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  Trenord cab car MDVC

The Netherlands

NS use their driving carriages in two different strategies.

For short distance trains they use a "virtual EMU" concept. Train sets are formed of a driving carriage, two or three intermediate carriages and either a class 1700 electric locomotive or an EMU motor vehicle. These train sets are diagrammed as if they were all EMUs resulting in formations with two locomotives, often at intermediate positions in the train.

For longer distance workings, including the Benelux services to Brussels the more normal mode of operation is used.

Poland

In Poland, the term used is "wagon sterowniczy", which literally means "control carriage".

Koleje Mazowieckie use driving trailers on their regional services. First batch of double-decker driving trailers and cars, the Twindexx Bombardier Double-deck Coaches, was delivered in 2008. Second batch, PESA-made Sundecks, was delivered at the end of 2015.

Switzerland

Swiss driving trailers operate in many different configurations. There are several models currently in service on S-Bahn networks as well as regional, InterRegio, and InterCity services. These are operated by the federal railway system (SBB) as well as various private railroads throughout the country (including narrow gauge lines) and into France, Germany, and Italy.

Driving trailers are classified after the UIC-lettering system, adding a "t,” giving Bt (second class), BDt (second class + baggage), ABt (first + second class), or Dt (baggage).

For Intercity trains there are the Bt IC that work together with EW IV and the double-deck version for the IC 2000 trainsets, working with Re 460.

The Zürich S-Bahn trainsets with Re 450 work in fix consists of Re 450 - B - AB - Bt but intermediate cars and driving trailers are numbered as coaching stock.

"NPZ" Regional and S-Bahn trains with RBDe 560 usually have a matching Bt driving trailer. Replacement by an older BDt EW I/II is technically possible. Older driving trailers, mostly BDt EW I/II and a few remaining Dt of SBB can be used with Re 420 and RBe 540 and some motive power of private railways. In theory also Re 430 and Re 620 can be controlled but these classes only work freight trains today.

The BLS operates four groups of driving trailers:

• ABt NPZ to go with RBDe 565 and RBDe 566 II (ex RM)
• ABt of a modified type EW I for RBDe 566 I (ex RM)
• Bt EW III, BDt EW II (both ex SBB), Bt EW I 901-902 (ex Thurbo/MThB) and leased Dt from SBB can work with Re 420.5 ex SBB and BLS Re 465.
• Bt EW I 950-953, BDt 940-941, car-shuttle BDt 942-945, 946-949 and 939 can work with Re 425, Ae 4/4 and Re 465

Südostbahn had a fleet of ABt for their BDe 4/4 but they will soon be fully replaced by FLIRTs. NPZ ABt exist for the two types of RBDe 566 SOB ownes (566 071-076 ex BT and 566 077-080 ex SOB of the SBB-type). Nine BDt are used for the Voralpen-Express with Re 456, Re 446 or SBB-CFF-FFS Re 420.

The narrow gauge Zentralbahn ABt can control HGe 101 (ex SBB), De 110, BDeh 140 (ex LSE) and the new "SPATZ" ABe 130.

The Rhaetian Railway (RhB) has, besides the ABDt that work with Be 4/4 511-516, a group of driving trailers that can be used with their Ge 4/4 I, II and III locomotives. Three of them are specially fitted for Vereina car shuttle trains.

The Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn (MGB) has numerous driving trailers for almost all types of motive power. They work regional trains and car shuttle trains through the Furka Base Tunnel.

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  The Swiss Bt IC model in Zürich

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  Double-decker Swiss IC 2000 Steuerwagen

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  S-Bahn Zürich double decker

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  Swiss NPZ Steuerwagen in Biel

• SBB Bt.JPG

  SBB BDt Steuerwagen near Wil

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  Swiss MThB Bt EW I Steuerwagen in Konstanz

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  The BLS Bt EW III (former Swiss Express)

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  Bt ex BVZ for Deh 4/4 21-24 at Stalden in the Valais

United Kingdom

Control cars have been in use in the United Kingdom for many decades, with the Great Western Railway often using 'autocoaches' on branch line services. These allowed a train driver to remotely control the regulator and reverser of a suitably equipped locomotive. The fireman remained on the locomotive to operate the boiler and locomotive whistle. Locomotives were commonly sandwiched between a pair of autocoaches, allowing a maximum of four to be used.

• Driving Brake Standard Open

Main article: Driving Brake Standard Open

A Driving Brake Standard Open or DBSO is a specially converted Mark 2 passenger car. These have not been used on regular mainline passenger trains since 2006, but some have been refurbished for use on Network Rail test trains.

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  DBSO 9710 at Norwich

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  DBSO in Anglia Railways livery

• Driving Van Trailer

Main article: Driving Van Trailer

A Driving Van Trailer or DVT is a more modern type of control car, purpose-built to include space for baggage and a guard's office. The DVT was developed from the DBSO and originally designed to be used with British Rail Mark 3 and Mk 4 coaches. DVTs are in service with Virgin Trains East Coast (Mk 4), Virgin Trains (Mk 3), Abellio Greater Anglia (Mk 3), Chiltern Railways (Mk 3) and Network Rail (Mark3).

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  Wrexham & Shropshire Mark 3 DVT at Marylebone station

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  Mark 4 DVT at Leeds station

Oceania

New Zealand

In Auckland, Transdev Auckland operates 21 DC class locomotives and three DFT class locomotives (owned by KiwiRail) in push-pull mode with 24 sets of 3-5 SA cars and an SD driving car with driving cab and remote controls (ex British Rail Mark 2 carriages rebuilt for suburban service), owned by Auckland Transport.

Asia

Sri Lanka

A control car of a DMU in Sri Lanka

Control cars are available on most diesel multiple units operated by Sri Lanka Railways.

Israel

Control cars are available on most diesel multiple units operated by Israel Railways.

See also

• Cab (locomotive)
• Control stand
• DBSO
• Driving Van Trailer
• Jumper cable
• Push-pull train

External links

• Amtrak Cabbage Car