I was wondering why is it that after the first diesel locomotive or after the "B" unit, the other "A" units are always reversed? I like the look and just recently i saw a coal train with the second and third unit reversed. Whats the reasoning?
It is that the power consist can be run in the opposite direction if needed at the end of the run, without haveing to turn the locomotives on around, just run them from the other end in the locomotive facing the other way.
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
Having a crew cab on both ends allows the use of the locomotives in either direction without having to be turned around.
As mentioned above the Western Pacific always ran freight trains to and from Oakland CA in A-B-A and/or GP combinations negating any need for turning. The roundhouse and balloon track were several miles apart. However the California Zephyr always ran A-B-B combinations, never GPs I believe for aesthetics, until Amtrak appeared. After passengers disembarked at the SP Mole the Zephyr terminated at a small WP yard containing the roundhouse, balloon track, washer and stores department.
Have fun, Rob
Ok, I hope to learn something today.
What is a balloon track?
A balloon track, also know as a reverse loop, is just a track where a train runs through a facing point switch and circles around a loop of track that connects back to the other route of the switch so the train is now going the opposite direction. With track power it will create a dead short unless some insulating gaps and special wiring is used. For a drawing and wiring tips take a look at this link: http://rail.felgall.com/rlt.htm
- James
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