I like watching this web cam. Always good train action. UP trains seemed to have their motive power split on most of their trains. Lead units and a trailing unit. Sometimes the trailing unit is in with the freight cars way before the end. My question, is the splitting up of the power more efficient this way. BNSF does not seem to do it like UP does. Thanks Paul.
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Many UP trains in the Houston area have power in both places, not just coal and grain trains!
What you are describing is referred to as Distributed Power (DPU means Distributed Power Unit), and different railroads have different operating characteristics. For example, with unit coal trains, the mines do NOT want the DPU placed within the train, as the flood-loading coal loaders tend to drop coal on top of the DPU, thus they are placed at the end of the train. long & heavy mixed/manifest freight trains may benefit with better train handling having the DPU place about 2/3 of the way back in the train.
It all comes to to different operating requirements for each railroad, and their terrain.
It also helps to reduce the stress on the couplers on a uphill grade.
Dave Zucal posted:It also helps to reduce the stress on the couplers on a uphill grade.
also saves flange and rail wear. I think the savings are substantial.
Thanks everyone for the answers to my question..............Paul
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