I'm not sure when they started to run this train with DPU power but both Saturday 12/5 and Sunday 12/6 the train departed NTW after adding a DP unit to the train. ANy ideas why this train has been chosen to run DP'd out of NTW?

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Milwaukee Road Matt

Interesting, thanks for posting. I sure hope this doesn't become more common on the BN around here...

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John Fladung
Saint Paul, MN

Interesting... When the H-GFDBRC still ran, especially a year or two ago, it almost always had a DP on the rear. In those days, the train was typically over 100 cars long and was almost all loads. I was talking with a crew once and they mentioned it was basically like pulling a loaded grain or coal train and sometimes reached up into the 14,000+ tons. I know the CSXPAS is usually quite long, but I don't think it's all loads heading west. Maybe BN is testing fuel economy on these manifest trains with a DP?

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John Fladung
Saint Paul, MN

Is there new thinking that there is less wear-and-tear on locomotives by having some pull and some push? I think I understand why pusher sets were used in high altitudes and peaked grades, but we don't have anything near the Rocky Mtn type grades here.

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train control is easier with a DPU. less slack action, better braking control, less pulling force on the head end couplers. I am surprised it has taken this long to get a DPU on a large manifest train. the NTW-NOY is almost always 7500' and they still don't use a DPU on it. one thing most people dont know is the engineer has to the DP qualified so it does take awhile to get everyone in the pool up to par. if the crew isn't DP qualified then they would have to pull the DP off, which has prolly happened a time or two and no one realized it.

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A BNSF fan by default.

It may handle better in terms of wear and tear, but from the engineers I've talked to it feels pretty ackward. It doesn't handle like a slinky over the hills much anymore. Aside from this, I really am bummed to see this DPU thing spread out to everything including manifests. Coal trains and Ore/Tac trains I understand, but I really think this idea is quite ugly/boring from a photography standpoint.

Alec

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Wisconsin Central 1987-2001
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Jared F.
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I never considered the documenting DPUs in service, good point. I was thinking out them facing the "right way" as a RP.net photographer and the taboo front-coupled shot. I've grown out of that; obviously, my photo album is testament to the large number of crappy photos I take. But I have always liked the extra chance at getting a well lit wedgie with a backward facing unit.

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