I witnessed something I have never seen before. I live near the Powder River Basin and there is ALOT of coal trains that come through here and it is not unusual to see DP units on a few trains (mainly AC locos). Today I seen the BSPX train come through “backwords”. Normally BNSF runs one DP on the rear and 2 locos on the point. This particular train had 2 on the rear and the 1 DP unit headed the 130 car train. Experimenting, I don’t know? This was the first time I have seen this, any comments?
We were up in Alliance on Wednesday. I saw a loaded E/B with 1 on the point and 2 DPUs. That was first for me as well. I saw maybe 3 empty W/B with 1 on the point and 2 DPUs with one of them offline.
This is not unusuall. In some places, it easier to turn the train by making the rear unit the leader.
When I was up in the PRB in 2006, I saw something more unusuall, 2 leaders and 4 DP’s.
Couple of different reasons for this, some areas on the railroad seem to work better with 1 X 2 DP trains. 1 X 2 DP’ng seems to work better in very undulating territory, where you have up and down grades constantly. I have never prefered running this way, as it is easier to break a train in 2 when going into dynamic breaks. Although thinking ahead at what needs to be done, and planning ahead for your next hill, valley, stop or slow order and being easy on the controls seems to keep the train running smoothly and without breaking the equipment.
Also sometimes the trains don’t have a clear shot on the territory and will go into a terminal one direction and than rather than moving engines around they just reverse the train.
Thank you for the great explanation, YE.
Thanks for the input!!! I found out that particular train is from Minnisota. So it makes sence that when it got to Billings, they didn’t move any power around, they basicly swithed the track and went the other direction with it. My kids and saw the same train come back through this evening but thye "DP"s were on the point and 9600 (the lone loco that lead the train 2 days ago) was the DP unit. With of course the helper set, an SD75M and a SD60M. Thanks again!!!
Nate
And from Lincoln NE - an MT coal train - headed west, of course, with 6 on the front 0 DPU’s. (We usually run one or two front, one rear or some such combo)
I would figure that this is probably moving some power around. Either leaving it in the Lincoln yard for use/mechanical inspection or taking them west to drop some of them out there. I have figured out you will see just about anything on the railroad.
I have noticed in Campbell County (heart of the Powder River Basin) that they run some strange combonation of loco lash ups. Last winter I seen three SD70ACes pushing on on a train loading out at Rawhide Mine with two locos on the point. I know what you are saying about seeing about anything on the railroad. 
I do not kow if they still do it, but several years ago, you used to be able to see as a common site; one engine on the point and a couple engines in DPU at the rear on a westbound m/t coal trains on the NS line into Memphis. These trains were run-thru’s from UP, and went down into Georgia via NS. I think for delivery to a power plant around Macon. The would then run back to Memphis and returned m/t to the UP to go reload.