Leo_AmesSo just because the FRA says that it's road power doesn't necessarily mean that it's a roadswitcher. Nor does it mean that just because it's classified as yard power, that it's not a roadswitcher and can't be useful in such jobs.
I don't think its the FRA saying it's a road or yard engine (no box for 'roadswitcher'), but the railroads classifying them as such. But a ES44 can be used as a switcher and a MP15 can be used as a road engine. Any port in a storm sort of thing. I really don't get the carding of different engines. Must have some purpose (or had at one time).
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
I also assume that it's up to the railroad, such as Union Pacific's SD38-2's that I mentioned as likely candidates for being classified officially as yard power.
I suspect this classification largely has to do with maintenance and inspections, since the demands of those two tasks obviously are very different.
And because of the FRA, union agreements, and so on, road and yard power are mandated to be equipped with particular features. Perhaps the most obvious one is toilet facilities for road power (Which is why late model EMD switchers with road capabilities have that feature).
So I assume what the railroad classifies them as has some bearing there.
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