This afternoon I was able to follow NS Norfolk Southern eastbound freight train 310, (How I was able to follow this train was because it was under restricted speed between Painesville / Madison), from Painesville OH to Unionville OH including seeing it in Madison. Power for the train was lead by BNSF H2 ES44AC #5744, BNSF H2 C44-9W #5203 & mid DPU distributed power unit FXE Ferromex SD70ACe #4056.
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Wow some nice pictures Tom 
I just noticed in the last few weeks NS is using mid-train helpers. Any idea what brought this on?
@nikkormat posted:I just noticed in the last few weeks NS is using mid-train helpers. Any idea what brought this on?
@MartyE posted:Wow some nice pictures Tom
Thank you Marty!!!
As to your question Nikkormat, NS actually has been using DPU's on their trains for quite a few years now. But it could be the area you live might not use DPU. But in Ohio, 85% of NS freights including CSX use a DPU.
Nice pics Tom. Keep up the great shots,
Saw a Norfolk Southern freight going east past Island Yard with 2 DPU'S - elephant style - this afternoon.
@Freight Train Jim posted:Nice pics Tom. Keep up the great shots,
Saw a Norfolk Southern freight going east past Island Yard with 2 DPU'S - elephant style - this afternoon.
Very very cool Jim. Yeah NS lately has been doing double DPU's.
Here is the YouTube video of NS 310 I saw yesterday afternoon in Painesville OH with the 2 BNSF H2's + FXE SD70ACe as mid DPU. At 1:36 mark in the video, you can hear on my scanner of dispatch talking to the crew regarding that speed restriction coming up.
I live not too far from the line running right through central Ohio up to Sandusky. I had not noticed the mid-train helpers until a few weeks ago. What was wrong with the way they ran them without mid-train helpers? Something must have changed.
@nikkormat posted:I live not too far from the line running right through central Ohio up to Sandusky. I had not noticed the mid-train helpers until a few weeks ago. What was wrong with the way they ran them without mid-train helpers? Something must have changed.
Maybe what "changed" was:
1) The trains got longer.
2) Mid-train and rear-end DPUs provide better train handling, i.e. less slack action, and less coupler stresses.
@nikkormat posted:I live not too far from the line running right through central Ohio up to Sandusky. I had not noticed the mid-train helpers until a few weeks ago. What was wrong with the way they ran them without mid-train helpers? Something must have changed.
@Hot Water posted:
Nikkormat, Hot Water / Jack is correct!! With the way NS has been running some of their freights this year and last year, they need DPU's.
Additional videos I took from Unionville & Madison OH of NS 310 from this past Monday with BNSF H2 ES44AC #5744, BNSF H2 C44-9W #5203 & mid DPU Ferromex SD70ACe #4056.
DPU service is fine... as far as combining trains, that’s a no no in my eyes
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