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[Anonymous]

Just watched a DVD of Clinchfield country. I noticed that coal trains typically have 2 C44-CWs on the head end with 2 -8 pushers in the rear. Same territory with a mixed freight will have 3-4 varying units on the head end.

Is there a method behind running two in the front on coal drags with helpers in the rear vs. putting all the power on the front of a through freight?

Shawn

[al-in-chgo]

Just watched a DVD of Clinchfield country. I noticed that coal trains typically have 2 C44-CWs on the head end with 2 -8 pushers in the rear. Same territory with a mixed freight will have 3-4 varying units on the head end.

Is there a method behind running two in the front on coal drags with helpers in the rear vs. putting all the power on the front of a through freight?

Shawn

 

Dear Shawn,

Recommend you buy or borrow the recent book Uncommon Carriers by veteran journalist John McPhee.  The first of the two chapters on "Coal Trains" in particular will likely be useful to you.  McPhee explains how, even out on the "flat" prairie, just enough gradient exists that it's often possible that the engineer, if insufficiently attentive to the undulations of a long train, might literally have trouble "making the grade"; and why supplemental power can still be useful. 

I notice the date of your initial posting.  If you have not already done so, I  STRONGLY suggest you post your thread on "Trains - Railroading" instead.  Even Bergie has wondered online about the wisdom of retaining this "TRAINS.COM - General Discussion" site because it is so under-trafficked; and indeed it seems that every question asked here can just as well be asked on the much, much busier "Railroading" post.

I'm sure there are tons of people in the TRAINS universe who have knowledge and opinions about the Clinchfield; it seems you're just not using the correct venue to connect with them.

Good luck!

Allen Smalling

PS:  BTW, when I was growing up in the Sixties, across the road from a fairly busy north-south Norfolk & Western line, it was not uncommon to see "helpers" or "pushers" in the middle of a long train -- "long train" at that time meaning more than about 45-50 cars.  Have also witnessed pushers on the rear, but that was very seldom.  -  a.s.

 

[Anonymous]

They put so much power on the rear because they return it to its original place, Elkhorn City, KY, or Shelbiana, KY to help on each train that goes through the Breaks Canyon.

[coborn35]

Just posting to get our forum back to the normal size.

[Anonymous]

Dude, you're username is way too long

[Railfan1]

Is there a method behind running two in the front on coal drags with helpers in the rear vs. putting all the power on the front of a through freight?

Shawn

I always thought it was just to help push it over the "hill", plus to keep the couplers from breaking. I assume coal trains are much heavier.