Locomotive directions in consist

[Anonymous]

I have looked at trains over and over again for some sign as to why certain engines point forward and others backwards... A truly curious person, I am.

What I want to know is are these conscious decisions, how the locomotives are in the yard when they are assembling trains, are some sign of the direction the engine needs to travel when broken away from the train?

Also, how are trains turned today without turn tables? Is there a manuever or certain type of train set-up?

Curious in Florida,
Shawn

[Anonymous]

I have looked at trains over and over again for some sign as to why certain engines point forward and others backwards... A truly curious person, I am.

What I want to know is are these conscious decisions, how the locomotives are in the yard when they are assembling trains, are some sign of the direction the engine needs to travel when broken away from the train?

Also, how are trains turned today without turn tables? Is there a manuever or certain type of train set-up?

Curious in Florida,
Shawn

[traisessive1]

Well, on the main...they always have the lead loco head first(duh) but (if im wrong yell) they just grap them the way they are in the yard. And if they need them pointing a certain direction they would just turn them in the yard before they left.
eg....to a spur or branch line
but if it was to another yard(large) they would just turn it there

[traisessive1]

Well, on the main...they always have the lead loco head first(duh) but (if im wrong yell) they just grap them the way they are in the yard. And if they need them pointing a certain direction they would just turn them in the yard before they left.
eg....to a spur or branch line
but if it was to another yard(large) they would just turn it there

[Trainnut484]

Hello Shawn,

I have posted my reply here in the other thread where you have your question. But, if you check here first, here it is. The Southern Railroad was one of the few who decided to run their lead power backwards, the term is "long hood forward." The practice was done for crew safety as they were not sitting up front. That practice continued until Southern and Norfolk Western merged together in 1982.

Hope this helps [:)]

[Trainnut484]

Hello Shawn,

I have posted my reply here in the other thread where you have your question. But, if you check here first, here it is. The Southern Railroad was one of the few who decided to run their lead power backwards, the term is "long hood forward." The practice was done for crew safety as they were not sitting up front. That practice continued until Southern and Norfolk Western merged together in 1982.

Hope this helps [:)]

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies! It does help clear things up for me.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies! It does help clear things up for me.

[Rustyrex]

It all depends on how the locomotives end up. Most class 1s use turntables and wyes to assemble their power to their specific trains needs. I happend to work for a shortline that didn't have this luxury, although we did have a wye we used on occasion, but had to move storage cars off it to use it each time.
I can remember "running backwards" many times, in fact my biggest memory of this was releiving another crew who was an eastbound, only to find I had FOUR WEST FACING UNITS[:(!], We all would rather run fowards all the time, but there are cases where you don't have the luxury.

--Rusty

[Rustyrex]

It all depends on how the locomotives end up. Most class 1s use turntables and wyes to assemble their power to their specific trains needs. I happend to work for a shortline that didn't have this luxury, although we did have a wye we used on occasion, but had to move storage cars off it to use it each time.
I can remember "running backwards" many times, in fact my biggest memory of this was releiving another crew who was an eastbound, only to find I had FOUR WEST FACING UNITS[:(!], We all would rather run fowards all the time, but there are cases where you don't have the luxury.

--Rusty

[traisessive1]

yea, a lot of yard jobs that are transfers and road switchers will have no choice but to run backword one way...cause what are the chances the industries have their own wye?

[traisessive1]

yea, a lot of yard jobs that are transfers and road switchers will have no choice but to run backword one way...cause what are the chances the industries have their own wye?

[Anonymous]

From what I know, it doesn't really matter what direction the units are pointing, however, they try to have one unit in the consist pointing the same direction as the lead unit so as if the lead unit fails, theres another unit in the consist ready to take the lead.

John

[Anonymous]

From what I know, it doesn't really matter what direction the units are pointing, however, they try to have one unit in the consist pointing the same direction as the lead unit so as if the lead unit fails, theres another unit in the consist ready to take the lead.

John

[Anonymous]

Beyond trying to make the forward engine run face first I doubt the railroads care about how the rest of their trailing units face unless there is a special reason to such as helper districts, switching needs (on manifest or locals) and very occationally publicity.