The cabs on both units would be towards the middle if both were set up to run long hood forward and the long hoods were pointing in opposite directions. This is eliminate turning at the terminal point. This is not a hard, fast rule though. If there was a wye or turning loop at the end of the run, they could be run "elephant style", nose to tail like Burlington used to do with their E units in the latter days, or Amtrak does today. Best answer: Whichever way they came off the ready track!
There are many variables that could affect building a locomotive consist, so there is no hard, fast, chiseled in stone rule, other than owner's preference. Diesel-ELECTRIC locomotives are big, dumb brutes that don't know or-care if they're coming or going. Acommodation is usually only made for the people inside.
Some consists are built with specific engine orientations, some are just mine run. For example, we used to build UPS trains with the first two engines in the consist pointed forwards, then the rest however they fell. That way if the first unit failed we would still have a engine facing forward to use as a leader. A two unit set that we knew was going to turn would be built back to back if we could.
Yard engines are faced so the engineer is on the lead side, so he can see the ground crew on the lead.
At N Platte, NE on the UP, all the consists at the shop are built with the lead unit facing east. To get to the westward side of the yard, the power goes over the "sheep jump" a running track for power that goes up and over the main tracks, turning the power facing west.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
cv_acr wjstix (Engines with dual controls still have to have the front designated with an "F".) As do cabless "B" units, and symmetrical and double-end units like GG-1s, AEM-7s, and little centre-cab switchers...
wjstix (Engines with dual controls still have to have the front designated with an "F".)
As do cabless "B" units, and symmetrical and double-end units like GG-1s, AEM-7s, and little centre-cab switchers...
Which is why I said all electric and diesel-electric engines have been required to have a designated front for at least a century.