hoping a real-roader will chime in

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

About a month ago as I was passing thru Wolcott, Ks , I sped past a stopped train on the siding that had a UP switcher in the lead with 2 Geeps assisting. Seemed odd but I was too busy to visit the forum.

Then yesterday afternoon on the same siding (headed north) was UP MP15AC # 1407, GP38-2 # 2308 short hood forward and GP60 # 2063 long hood forward. The general merch. freight was still there 5 hrs later but KCS ES44AC # 4697 was ahead of the switcher by a car length with the cab pointed south. Now today at 4 the KCS is attached to the switcher. Even though the consist looks cumbersome with the ES44’s long hood forward, my reason for writing is : why would the UP run a lashup with the MP15’s glass end up front? Sure, it would be a great view for the crew but wouldn’t that expose them to danger at every grade crossing? And wouldn’t the accomodations be a little more comfortable in a Geep as opposed to a switcher? I’d frequently run an SW with road engines on the old layout but always as the last unit.

sorry, no pics.

2

A simple answer would be that the carriers don’t give a crap about the power you have or what way its facing.

I don’t know about different collective agreements out there. On CN we have a few stipulations about power up in Canada. I assmume the UP doesn’t have anything in their crews agreements on the following issues.

  1. It 's not supposed be long hood forward. (If it is you turn it at the first available location. (Many roadswitchers are only signle unit, thus they gotta. And you still get certain instances where you are single unit on the road and have no other option.))

  2. The engine has to have a microwave, fridge and hotplate if it is used in road service.

3

By the time the train reached Kansas City, the lead unit was facing forward, the switcher was 4th out and the KCS unit was trailing. You probably saw them in the middle of their work.

Dave H.