A Control Car Remote Control Locomotive (CCRCL) is a stripped diesel locomotive body with remote control equipment installed. The term and the units are a creation of the Union Pacific Railroad, which as of 2005[update] is widely adopting remote control of locomotives in switching service. They are sometimes improperly called slugs, and differ from normal remote control locomotives as they cannot move on their own.
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It is coupled to a locomotive (or a consist of locomotives) which lack remote control equipment; it is set to be the lead locomotive in command of the others, controlling them through their multiple unit control connections.
Until all locomotives in switching service are equipped with remote control apparatus, the CCRCLs provide an easy way of ensuring that remote control capability is available. They do not require taking active locomotives out of service to equip them with the remote control capability; instead, this can be added when the locomotive is next scheduled for a normal overhaul.
When a locomotive is converted to a CCRCL the traction motors and fuel tank are removed. The windows are plated over, the locomotive is painted gray with red lettering, and remote control equipment is installed. The locomotives used are old GE-built locomotives, models B23-7 and B30-7.[1] These have a low value on the used locomotive market.