I've seen many a transfer caboose, and pictures of sets of transfer locomotives, often big heavy engines or sets of switchers, like cow-calf-calf setups. I'm guessing this is not mainline equipment but for moving large trains within a given yard over to meet the road engines, or from one yard to another nearby?
Dan
Yes, it's the latter. Transfers are when railroad A moves a string of interchange cars over to railroad B. Usually this is from one yard to another within a few miles of each other, which is why railroads used transfer cabooses for the rear-end crew rather than a 'full service' caboose (with bunks, food storage, etc.) back in the days of caboose use.
Generally, work rules required it to be a one way operation. Railroad A assembles a train and runs it to the yard of Railroad B, and returns to their yard with just their engine(s) and caboose. Railroad B then can run a string of cars from their yard to Railroad A, again returning 'light' to their own yard.
However a third party, like a 'transfer' or 'terminal' railroad, could move cars from A to B, pick up cars at B, and deliever them to A. Often several railroads got together to buy (or create) a terminal railroad in a busy metropolitan area, to make it easier to transfer cars from railroad to railroad.
Here is a classic example of a transfer service; a Union Pacific train (noticable via the caboose) pulling a train out of a Rio Grande yard:https://www.flickr.com/photos/151089709@N08/32816738522/
Got it. Thanks. Dan
Everytime I think of transfer locomotives I think of this beast.
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
Funny. I think of this:
although sometimes this:
Ed
Yeah, Steven, that's a beast!
Ed, I've seen those other loco's in pictures, which are the ones in fact that prompted the question.