Dual control stand

Dual control stand refers to the North American practice of some railroads to have two control stands (a "control stand" is a diesel locomotive subsystem which integrates all engine and brake functional controls within the operational radius of the locomotive engineer's left forearm from his/her customary seating position, facing forward at all times) in the cab of a hood unit locomotive, one on either side facing opposite directions to allow operation either long hood or short hood forward at all times). This practice was largely used by the Norfolk and Western, as well as Southern Railway, during the 1960s and 1970s, but could also be found on select Erie Lackawanna, Reading, Penn Central and Western Pacific locomotives during the same time period

The rationale for having two control stands was to put the engineer on the proper side of the locomotive regardless of the direction of travel; this would reduce the need to turn the locomotive at a terminal.

Present railroad practice is to operate two or more locomotives in "multiple unit" configurations, with the "front" locomotive pointing "front", and with the rear-most, or all rear locomotives facing "rear". This practice eliminates "turning of equipment".

List of locomotives built with dual control stands

RDG 6300-6304 U30c
RDG 5307-5311 C630
RDG 7600-7604 SD45
EL 3635-3653 SDP45
MN&S 20-24 DT-6-6-2000
PRSL 2000-2010 EMD GP38
NW 1329-1388 GP40
NW 1580-1624 SD40
NW 1625-1635 SD40-2
NW 4100-4158 GP38AC
SP 5308 SD7
SP 5600-5603, 5622-5625 GP9
T&NO 280-283 GP9
WP 701-713 GP7
WP 725-731 GP9
WP 2001-2010 GP20
WP 3001-3022 GP35
WP 2251-2264 U23B
Class M6 operated by Sri Lanka Railways
Indonesian Railways CC201 01R - CC201 144R - GE U18C
Indonesian Railways CC203 01 - CC203 41  GE U20C
Indonesian Railways CC204 01 - CC204 37  GE C18MMi and GE C20MP
Indonesian Railways BB202 01 - BB202 08  EMD G18U6
Indonesian Railways BB203 01 - BB203 59  GE U18A1A
British Rail Class 20

References 

 
 
 
 
 

Category:Rail transport operations
Category:Locomotive body styles