What do power cars do?[%-)]
A power car contains a generator set to provide hotel power to passenger
trains. They are used in lieu of head-end power equipped locomotives.
For some passenger hauling railroads, it is less expensive to provide a
power car and then not have to operate specially equipped locmotives.
With a power car, most any freight loco may be used.
Back when my pet prototype began to electrify, most of the passenger equipment was fitted for steam heat. To provide the steam, a boiler from a small obsolete loco would be fitted to a suitable frame on passenger trucks, with fuel bunker and water tanks. The casing had the same profile as the coaches it was used with, and the same grunge brown paint job.
The joker was, they were coal fired! Imagine, if you can, a nice, shiny catenary motor immediately followed by a short, ugly smoke screen generator. In tunnels, the scent of burning coal could get pretty strong.
Chuck
Here’s what we Brits refer to as “power cars”
http://cjm.fotopic.net/p24115368.html
It is a 2000 hp diesel electric power car on either end of an HST set, providing motive and hotel power, as well the driver’s position and controls.
Thanks[8D]