Proper orienting of MUed DD35a

Not sure about DD-35s but the Centennials (6900s) would run back to back as a general rule.

cc

I personally would run then tail to tail.  IF you ever send them "back" on your RR you won't need to turn them around to do so.

That's a lot of locomotive!  I agree having to turn them would be like turning the Titanic.  Back to back seems to make sense.   You didn't use that 'L' phrase did you?

I'm sure you are now going to get at least one post about "It's your railroad, do what you want.", however if you are asking how the Union Pacific Railroad set-up THEIR DD and DD35A, and for that matter, the DDA40X units, that's different.

The UP originally took delivery of their DD35 and GP35 units in A-B-B-A sets, and placed them into service just that way, i.e. GP35-DD35-DD35-GP35, obviously with the GP35s always facing with the cabs "forward" at each end, so the whole consist did NOT have to be turned at each end of the railroad. When received, the DD35A units where operated "back-to-back", again with a cab facing "forward" in each direction. By being MU'ed back-to-back, additional units of lower horse power could then be placed in between the two DD35A units, as additional power was required.

For DDA40X operations, the same back-to-back consist configuration was used, then UP ordered a bunch of high speed geared SD40 units for operation WITH the DDA40X units. You would then see consists of two DDA40X units, back-to-back, with one or two "fast 40s" in between.

Too bad the N&W didn't have these -- it would have been fun watching them run them long hood forward.   

Thanks for the responses.  The consensus of the recommendations and the input from the expert witness confirm my initial feelings – back to back.  The DD35As will be so configures when MUed.  Now if Lionel would only produce the SD35s and DD35s.