Why two locos?

Timpix posted:

HI,  I don't think I have ever seen fewer than two locomotives on Finger Lakes Railway trains servicing the salt plants in Watkins Glen.  Often there are only four or five cars being moved.  Why all the horsepower?  Wouldn't one loco be enough?

Thanks, Tim

If they have them mu'ed "back-to-back", then they have an operating cab at each end, thus the operating crew does not have to operate "long hood forward". Much safer.

Or they pick up/drop off more cars en route.  Also the profile of the railroad may have influence.

Rusty

That makes sense, thanks!

Yes, FGLK runs them back-to-back to do the run-around for the return trips back to Geneva. Minimizes pushing the whole consist or running long hood first, and plenty of power is available in case of a breakdown.