Powered caboose/rear power

I've seen this on some, but not all BNSF coal trains.

I believe it's to reduce the delay in pumping up the brake line and helps relieve drawbar stress on heavy trains.  (Just guessing...  I'm not really up on contemporary operations.)

Rusty

These are distributed power units or DPU for short.  They are remote control, and a reincarnation of the old GE Locotrol units (remember those snoot nose SD40-2 (ATSF) and SD40T-2s SP).  They are being used because they improve train handling and permit longer trains with less chance of breaking couplers.  Train types that incorporate DPUs are all over the map; just about every train type can have a DPU if the RR deems it conducive.  However, unit coal trains and long double stack trains seem to be the most prevalent to use DPU.  UP commonly incorporates them on large long-distance manifest trains, such as Englewood Yard (Houston, TX) to West Colton, CA manifest (M-EWWC); sometimes even placing the DPU unit(s) mid-train.

Scott Kurzawski

Austin, TX

See them a lot out here in San Bernardino. They used to attach helpers over the Cajon grade and detach them. Now they run all the way through.

In a modeling context, putting DPU's on the tail end of a train is easy enough -- just put the last engine in your consist at the rear of the train. Using dummies at the end of the train probably isn't a good idea because the weight at the rear will cause string-lining problems and additional coupler stress. The tail end of the train needs power. In the video below, the last unit is powered and pushing a dummy. Two of the three locomotives up front are powered.

Very Nice Representation!

The local shortline does this and I was lead to believe it was to make switching chores easier with the many facing and trailing point switching needs they deal with.

Bob

I can absolutely guarantee you that the class 1 railroads are NOT "wishing they now again had a caboose"! Besides, there wouldn't be any personnel remaining to put in the caboose anyway, as the railroads have gone to two man crews, i.e. Engineer and Conductor.