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1/27/2016

Control Chief: Load-out Management Solution

Control Chief Corp.'s latest locomotive-based offering combines the flexibility of the transportable MU&Go^®plus+^TM system with the safety and convenience of a pedestal mounted console transmitter located in the load-out control room, company officials say.

"With this wireless solution, we are able to take the operator out of the cab of the locomotive and have him positioned in the load-out control room optimizing personnel safety and efficiency throughout the entire process," said Control Chief Rail Applications Specialist Dan Sipko in a press release. "This solution addresses safety concerns that arise from voice-radio miscommunication between the load-out and locomotive operators."

The solution also provides the load-out operator an "eye in the sky" perspective, allowing him to place the locomotive exactly where it needs to be. That reduces the time wasted repositioning cars due to overshoots leading to coupling slack issues, said Sipko.

The MU&Go^®plus+  can be installed on any MU equipped locomotive in 15 minutes or less, company officials say.

Control Chief's Load-Out Management Solution is PLC based and incorporates a customized human machine interface (HMI) for real-time operational data from the locomotive, as well as control of any ancillary devices such as car shakers, rotary dumpers and other site specific equipment.

"Having the locomotive operator in the control room allows [him] the ability to monitor feed and/or dump cycles throughout the process," says Control Chief Locomotive Product Manager Dave Tenney. "The inherent logic of the system also lends itself for site specific configuration of 'permissive' and 'inhibit' safeguards restricting inadvertent movement of the locomotive during the dump process."