Patent ID: 6854691

Claim:
A railroad communication system for controlling operation of a locomotive by at least two different locomotive control units, with the communication system comprising: a first locomotive control unit, mounted on and operably connected to the locomotive, the first locomotive control unit comprising a first radio transmitter and receiver subsystem capable of communicating with a first remote control unit at a first frequency band of about 450 MHz band for controlling operation of the locomotive; a second locomotive control unit, mounted on and operably connected to the locomotive, the second locomotive control unit comprising a second radio transmitter and receiver subsystem capable of communicating with a second remote control unit at a second frequency band different from the first frequency band and selected to avoid interference with the first radio transmitter and receiver subsystem for communication with the locomotive; a first processor, operably connected to the first radio transmitter and receiver subsystem for responding to the first remote control unit for controlling the operation of the locomotive in response to control signals from the first remote control unit; a second processor, operably connected to the second radio transmitter and receiver subsystem for responding to the second remote control unit for controlling the operation of the locomotive in response to control signals from the second remote control unit; and whereby operation of the locomotive can be selectively controlled by one of the remote control units without causing interference with communications with the other locomotive control unit or other locomotives, with the locomotive responding to only the selected remote control unit.