# Why do diesel-electric locomotives still use "notch" load control?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-diesel-electric-locomotives-still-use-notch-load-control/937934>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 15, 2021, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-diesel-electric-locomotives-still-use-notch-load-control/937934 "2021-03-15T12:55:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 35

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**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2021, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-diesel-electric-locomotives-still-use-notch-load-control/937934/35 "2021-04-24T23:43:27Z")

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> [@split\_p\_j](#):
>
> Yes, I’m a road engineer at a major Class 1 U.S. railroad. I’m also a long time flight simmer and watch a lot of the pilot vlogs on youtube and have also noticed many similarities.
> 
> My company actually used the sterile cockpit concept, and told us it was a safety measure they adopted directly from the airlines when the first rolled it out. We call our version sterile cab.
> 
> Maybe I will start a thread.

Here’s the old thread from 2013 for some the topics covered. New stuff would be great. [Ask a train engineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-train-engineer/657131)

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