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Reply to "Engines on the back of freights question"

Two23 posted:
KansasMike posted:

In my neighborhood the KCS uses a lot of DP, especially on coal and grain trains.  The odd part is that one coal train may run with 2 on the head and 3 on the rear and the next one may be 2 on the head, 2 about 2/3 back and 1 on the rear.  I haven't had a chance to talk with anyone that would know (actual railroad employee) and ask why one coal train runs 3 x 2 or 2 x 3 and the next one is 2 x 2 x 1. 

Don't know about KCS, but here in the Orange Kingdom I see BNSF shuttle trains (ethanol, grain) with engines on both ends.  Usually it's 3/2 or 2/3 but it can be 1/3 or 3/1.  I think what you're missing is these trains aren't uncoupled--they are unit trains.  Train pulls empty hoppers to the elevator (usually a big circle track), loads the grain, and simply hops into the cab at the other end of the train and takes it back on the line it came in on.  

Actually they often "break" coal and grain trains here to install engines in the middle of the train.  The unit trains arrive in Pittsburg from Kansas City and will often need extra helpers for the SB grades as they head to Heavener Oklahoma.  Extra power is stored here and the yard is setup to ease the insertion of power mid train.  Again not all are placed in the middle of these unit trains, but it is not uncommon to see.

I have noticed one thing.  When the KCS is using Union Pacific run thru power on the head end, it is more likely  to see power in the middle of the train. 

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