"Front" of "B" units

[Texas Zepher]

MILW-RODR

A good example I just realized is the ad >>>> right over there for Standard Hobby Supply. Pair of BNSF (Dash 9's or AC4400's?) paired up long hood to long hood.

???? The question isn't about general MUing but about cabless "B" units.   I was not aware that there were any "B" dash-9s or AC4400s.  The last modern loco I saw that had a "B" variation was the GP60.

[Texas Zepher]

GRAMRR

Apparently "B" units have a front and back end.  Connected in an A-B configuration, are the engines oriented with both "front" ends facing in the same direction or are they connected "back to back?"  What was general practice?

I am certain every possible combination existed; however, when the units were permanently coupled from the factory the general (default) configuration was  "back to back".   I do not know which way the "B" unit was configured when it was in a permanent ABA arrangement.

[GRAMRR]

Thanks, Robert -

My railroad will have a number of A-B sets and I really never considered that B-units had a "front" and "back."

[BerkshireSteam]

I just wanted to be the first to say, it all depends on the RR. Usually you see them long hood to long hood, or long hood to short head, but this is also with non-booster locos that have cabs. It was generally thought as safer to put as much distance between cabs for safety reasons, like crashes. Which doesn't make sense because from what I under stand in MU consists, say one with 3 locos, only the first "lead" loco would have a crew in them, the other locos would be crew less. I personally will run MU trains with the most distance between cabs, in other words the first two engines long hood to long hood, and the middle and end cab would be long hood of end cab to short hood of middle cab. You have a really good question though, I will have to keep my eye on this post. A good example I just realized is the ad >>>> right over there for Standard Hobby Supply. Pair of BNSF (Dash 9's or AC4400's?) paired up long hood to long hood.

[Arjay1969]

 I can't speak to what other railroads did, but on the Santa Fe, initially, the units were kept as sets, and usually "front" to "back" with its consist.  Later on, this changed as the units were separated and assigned as needed, and the pairings were random, depending solely on which way the B-units were facing at the time.

[GRAMRR]

Reading TrainsBuddy's post regarding back-up light placement on "B" units made me think of another question that I just took for granted. Apparently "B" units have a front and back end.  Connected in an A-B configuration, are the engines oriented with both "front" ends facing in the same direction or are they connected "back to back?"  What was general practice?