Does it really matter where it’s placed in the consist?
I ask because quite often I see railroads handle it differently. Some are placed on the lead while I watch the VA webcam, and here where I live (Utah) UP doesn’t seem to place it on the lead. Red CP power comes through Ogden once in awhile but mainly armour yellow.
Home road power will be found in the lead in situations where such things as Automatic Train Stop, cab signals, or other special equipment is required.
Otherwise, placement may be dictated by which unit has the better ‘creature comforts’ for the crew - anything from seats to air conditioning, microwaves, refrigerators, toilets, a better ride, etc. - and whether the hostlers - and their manager - at the originating terminal have the time and ‘inclination’ to assemble the lash-up that way. If not, then they’ll usually be in the simple order/ sequence in which they come off the servicing tracks and are suitable for the designated train.
East of Ogden on the main line towards Wyoming and points east, cab signals are used. If you’re close to that line, UP power (equipped with cab signals) is about all you’ll see in the lead.
Jeff
The run through power I tend to see in Ogden are not usually headed east into Wyoming. They are going one of two ways:
Either north into Idaho, I can’t drive so am not a chaser.
West over the Great Salt lake and into Nevada, the CP power I see are commonly on Intermodal freight so I’m guessing are headed west to California and a port.
Over the last year intermodal freight in Ogden has picked up alot and have been curious about that.