Locomotives on the front and rear

[pimpz26]

Hello, I'm new to this board, so I hope I'm welcome here. I have a couple questions. I live in Columbus NE, like two blokes from the Union Pacific main line. I have been see quite a few coal trains east bound with one or two locomotives on the front, and then one on the rear pushing (I'm assuming it's pushing). What is the reason for this? My other question is; I have a railroading video, and in the video they talk about A, B, C, and D rails, what are they talking about? The name of the video is Working On The Union Pacific. Thanks for your time.

[Anonymous]

When they have power on the head end of the train then more power in the middle or on the end, they are probably using distributive power. The lead unit controls the ones back in the train by radio control. The railroads believe DP gives them more pull for the horsepower.

[David3]

Let me say welcome to the forums and you are always welcome here! I can answer one of your questions. When coal trains have a loco on the back it is called DPU power. This means it does whatever the lead locomotive does. They use these on coal trains because they need the extra power to push up hills and such, because the coal trains are so heavy. I hope this helps you a little.
Dave [:D][:D]

[pimpz26]

Cool, Thanks for the info.

[dehusman]

DP allows reduced drawbar forces allowing a heavier trains.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

Its called DPU - distributed power units. Many railroads put them not only in rear but also the middle. It helps to distribute the horsepower evenly thoughout the consist.
Oh, and the rear units do push- otherwise that would defeat the whole purpose of moving any train.
[#welcome] I hope you enjoy the time you have spent here.

[Granny74]

Alex: Good to see a post from you and thanks for your email. Also thanks for posting that great picture of you! And also---love your marital status comment!!
Bob and Nance from AZ

[Anonymous]

Why, stop it! You're making me blush. In that picture the sun was in my eyes, and I did my best to keep them open.
Take care, you guys. Always a pleasure to talk to you. [:p]

[Grinandbearit]

Last September I was out in Vancouver touring around and just happened to find the BC Rail line to Roberts Bank Terminal, (at least that's what I told my wife) and lo and behold along comes a CPR loaded coal train. A nice big GE on the point, wait a minute there is only 1 engine on a 10,000 ton coal train! Waiting a while ,the tail end appeared with another GE at the rear, and they were consecutive numbers. I thought Roberts Bank had a loop but maybe not. It sure would simplify bringing the train back out of a stub end yard without any changing engines or run arounds. The engineer just goes to the other end and away we go.

[Anonymous]

Grin, at a lot of utilities the unloading track is a loop. When the train is unloaded it is also turned to face the opposite direction and the same locomotives are in the lead for the return trip.

[WDGF]

QUOTE: I have a railroading video, and in the video they talk about A, B, C, and D rails, what are they talking about? The name of the video is Working On The Union Pacific. Thanks for your time.

I ran across this thread, and I'm still curious about this second part of pimpz26's question. If I had to guess, I'd say this is either designations for different sets of parallel tracks, or maybe some kind of rail design?

[pimpz26]

Does any one know whatthey are talking about with the rails?

[edblysard]

Hey there pimpz26,

I think I know why the narrater in you video used A.B.C

Where I work, the north end of the yard has several leads into five different sub yards, all built at different times over the years.

If a foreign crew was not familiar with the leads, what would be the best way to "lead" them around, or give them directions?

Put it this way, if I told you to "come on in the staight lead, use Kings pass to get to the Cleveland way, and pull up to the Scale track", and you had never been here before, how long do you think it would take to have a mess in the yard?

Or, if I told you to use one of our mains, called the east main and west main, and you didnt know which was which?

The video used A,B,C& D as a example, instead of the real names most likely used by UP, just for clarity's sake, its easier for the audience to relate to.

In the above example, what if I told you "the far track to your left is A, the next one over is B, then C and so forth, and I want you to come in the yard on the B track, use the crossover to get to the C track, and when you get to the south end, use to next crossover to get to D track and pull up behind the scale house"

Do you think that would be a easier way to explain to a "lost" foreign crew how to navigate through a yard they had never been in before?

And, funny as it may be, the sub yards that make up our North yard, have real simple names, just for that reason.
If your facing north, they are, from left to right, A, B, C, D, E, F&H yard.
A yard, in and outbounds, B yard, inbound and switching yard, C&D yards, outbound to ship channel industries, E & F yards, inbound switching yards, and the H yard, receiving track for inbound trains.

We have several foreign crews from our member lines in here every day, quite a few have never been here before, so it saves confusion to use the ABCs

Stay Frosty,
Ed

[dehusman]

What location are they at when they are talking about "A, B, C, D" rails?
The main lines are numbered N to S (1,2,3).

Dave H.

[pimpz26]

That makes sense, thanks for the info.