I have only been heavily active in the world of trains for that 3 years or so. Out here in Phoenix, you are pretty limited to easy railfaning. But somethign I have began to notice, is that more and more trains I see around here (Includeing the Sunset Route down south) is the useage of DPU’s on the rear. I understand how the use of a rear pusher works, and it makes sense to do it, just trying to figure out if it was something the railraods starting doing more of or if I just didnt notice in years past. Or, what is it like in the rest of the country, how common are they?
They are definately getting more and more common. At first they became the norm on many mountainous lines replaceing helper districts. Now they are becomeing popular on the flatter lines.
anything that will cut manpower costs…the railroads look at with glazed over eyes and drull comeing out of thier mouths… so yea…they are becomeing more and more common place… we dont have them where i am yet … but that isnt to say they we wont someday down the road…
csx engineer
Ok. So I am not to far out there[:D]. So, take your normal train, 3 on the front, typical freight 80 cars.
Now, it seems that I see that train with 2 on the point, and one pushing. Is the idea to make life easier on the couplers? In theroy then, you are cutting 33% weight off the front 2/3rds of the cars and the rear 3rd, gets pushed. Would this maybe because the cars are getting heavier and breaking knuckles is getting more common?
Well, here is my guess why they are becoming more common on flat routes. Biggest problem a train has is stringing out the cars and snapping a knuckle. Well, on flat land, once your up to speed, your good. (Useing the some of the lines through southern AZ as an example) But maybe with all the increased traffic, the trains are haveing to hot shot it from one siding to the next. With all the quick starts, the train would would have more chances to string out and a engineer miss it one time and snap a car. To me, useing a DPU would cut down those chances.
Definitely seems like they’re more into it on flat terrain now. The UP coal trains through the EJ&E started using them a year or two back… Never thought that would happen. Dave http://www.dpdproductions.com - Featuring the TrainTenna Railroad Radio Antennas -