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DPU used more often now? photo included...
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All five of the Western Class Is (I'm including CN and CPR in that) adopted DPU almost at the same time, as I recall. As they obtain more units that are DPU capable, and have more experience with it, they continue to expand its use. DPU hasn't caught on in the slightest on the two eastern roads, and I don't think it will -- their geography and traffic is much different and I doubt DPU would help them as much. However, they have DPU runthroughs on Powder River Basin coal trains, such as to Georgia and Alabama, interchanged from both BNSF and UP. <br /> <br />Other major advantages: <br />1. lower buff forces, allowing fewer tonnage restrictions on descending grades and into controlled sidings. <br />2. the remote unit can charge the train line, which essentially eliminates the use of retainers, gives faster recharge times, avoids a lot of cold-temperature problems <br />3. less brakeshoe wear, less wheel wear <br />4. lower lateral and longitudinal forces on track, which lengthens tie life and reduces alignment problems <br />5. fewer broken drawbars, meaning fewer train delays and recrews <br />6. manned helper operations abolished, a major savings in labor <br />7. can act as its own Fred, so one less thing to break, get loss, be in short supply <br />8. most of all: MORE TONNAGE for the same crew, so more productivity. <br /> <br />Disadvantages: <br />1. lot of time wasted in terminals and at origins and destinations cutting them in and out, reducing cycle time <br />2. a significant gain in locomotive miles per train miles <br />3. some train-handling problems with inexperienced crews <br /> <br />OS
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