CP Unit train operation question

Recently CP Rail has taken the the mid train engine out of unit trains and put it on the end as a pusher. Looks kinda strange. Why would they do that?

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RE: CP Unit train operation question, cn_bayview, Nov-02-02, 09:05 PM, (1) RE: CP Unit train operation question, derekmorton, Nov-02-02, 09:32 PM, (2) RE: CP Unit train operation question, highball5, Nov-02-02, 11:03 PM, (3) RE: CP Unit train operation question, SD40T_2, Nov-03-02, 03:41 AM, (4) RE: CP Unit train operation question, cn_bayview, Nov-03-02, 11:32 AM, (5) RE: CP Unit train operation question, CNBALA, Nov-03-02, 01:24 PM, (6) RE: CP Unit train operation question, CP_5940, Nov-03-02, 03:56 PM, (7) RE: CP Unit train operation question, Drailon, Nov-03-02, 06:36 PM, (8) RE: CP Unit train operation question, rocky, Nov-03-02, 11:59 PM, (9) RE: CP Unit train operation question, CP_5940, Nov-04-02, 06:53 PM, (10)

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Hi,
I don't know exactly why, but i guess because it is easier to just uncouple the loco instead of breaking the train up to remove it from the consist.

Rob.
Mile 21.0 CN Oakville Sub.

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Rocky,Saves about 20 minutes taking the loco off.Derek

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Around here the helper is only needed for a short distance on unit coal trains to get
them over a few bluffs, then the line becomes a billiard table again. Having the
helper on the end makes it real fast and easy to add it, and just as fast to drop it
once over the hump. Traffic is heavy enough that even with a 2-track main in and
around this area, having to break the train in the middle and recouple then get ready
to go again would cause the line dispatcher to have to double up on his ulcer medicine.

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LAST EDITED ON Nov-03-02 AT 03:41 AM (EST)

well down here in SO Cal the UP And ATSF (BNSF) put their Helpers on the rear of the train, so they can just unhook them at the bottom of the hill, SP on the other hand was known for adding the helpers to the front of the train....

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Hi,
I'm making a modern CP activity for KHP, Now Im wondering what a loaded slufer consist would be Banff to Field. I have 100 loaded sultran cars and 1 AC4400 on the lead and 1 in the middle. Now... Should it be 2 on the lead or just one?
Thanks. The trains runs fine with the 1 on the front and one in the middle. And also if anyone knows about how many cars are on a sulfer unit train?
Thanks
Rob

Rob.
Mile 21.0 CN Oakville Sub.

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Hey RobI noticed here now with a single unit, with AC4400 pull a long freight train or intermodal train go by where I live nearby. I would go for with one unit but in Western Canada depend on the hill they have to pull a long train with full power -- maybe two or three units. That's my suggestion.ThanksJohn

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Rob, the average sulfer train that cp runs are 6600feet long with 112 cars and weighing in around 14,000 to 16,000tons. The typical power for these trains are 3 GE AC4400CW's two on the head end and one in the middle.
Greetings
Ryan
Revelstoke, Bc

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Yep, I see CP Rail running 2 or 3 large units on the front and one in the middle. Going through Revelstoke, BC during my summer vacation I noticed this practice.

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Hi Ryan,
Well thats what I am saying. There maybe 2 on the head end and one in the middle in Revelstoke but in Kamloops they are arriving with 2 on the head and one at the end! I thought the original idea of the middle one was to reduce the draw bar weight. I suppose pushing would have the same effect but I wonder why this was not done years ago when unit trains first started?
Regards
Rocky

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Rocky, After Kamloops its mostly flat and I think CP trains run on CN main line witch is much flatter then CP. They setoff a engine at Kamloops and then a eastbound train picks it up and brings it to Calgary or Sparewood. Pushing a train is a little more complicated, first off both the head end and pusher engineer’s has to keep one notch apart. For example the head end engineer tells the pusher engineer on what throttle he is in over the radio, so say the head end engineer is in throttle 3, the pusher engineer would be in throttle 2, and they keep doing that till all engines are in throttle 8, that way the train won't pull apart. It's very interesting on how they do this, I seen this done when CP had the pusher back in Rogers Pass last summer. Cheers!!
Ryan
Revelstoke, BC

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