Did You Know Remote Control Trains Are Rolling Through Amarillo?

We've all seen them before, and I believe there is even a group for remote control train hobbyists in Amarillo. Truthfully, some of us probably asked for these trains when we were kids growing up.

Ok, maybe not THESE types of remote control trains. I thought they were just limited to the ones you setup in a basement or put around the Christmas tree during the holidays.

Right here in Amarillo, you can see real life trains that are controlled by remote control. You know, the ones where you have to stop for when you're out driving. There is a video of a couple BNSF trains at Amarillo's south yard that are both being controlled remotely, and it's kind of fascinating to watch.

As the video starts, you can see one train coming in relatively slow, which is normal as it approaches a train station or something along those lines. That train is not being controlled by a person.

A note pops up on the screen and it says another train is approaching around a curve, where some rail switching is about to occur. You see the remote control train come to a stop right on time as the other train approaches.

By the way, the approaching train is being controlled remotely as well.

Trains are interesting things to me, and truthfully they kind of scare me. I'm not really sure why, they just do. However, the thought of these trains being run without conductors in them freaks me out even more.

I know we've come a long way with technology, I mean we have cars that can drive themselves, but that's a story for another day. The difference between these self-driving cars and essentially self-driving trains is one big difference.

The self-driving cars have a person in them who can take control if immediate action is needed. These trains do not. I'm sure the rail companies have done extensive testing on all this so I have no doubt they're safe, otherwise they wouldn't be doing it right?

Ultimately, if you're a remote control train enthusiast, you now have a new job sector you could potentially go into and take your hobby to a different level.