A 'power pool' is when two or more railroads 'pool' a set of locomotives. A good example would be unit coal train that runs from the PRB to a power plant. There may be BNSF and NS engines in the pool. The hp/hours are calculated and the railroad that has the highest difference pays the other railroad.
Leases can be a little more complicated, and besides the hp/hour cost, the cost of scheduled servicing may be calculated in. A power shortage is usually the reason for structured long term leases. BTW, you will usually see lots of 'off-line' power in UP trains east of Baily Yard at North Platte.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
How does loco pooling work between railroads and how is it paid for? I notice alot of units from other class 1's running on the BNSF and CP, but almost never on the U.P. . Would this indicate a shortage of units on the BNSF and CP. It seems odd because they have a lot of units stored, or am I mistaken about that?
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