Is it better for a locomotive to push or pull?

There is no great inherent difference in efficiency either way. A pulling locomotive drags the wheels on all the train cars on the inside of curves, a pushing locomotive drags the wheels on all the train cars on the outside of curves. Otherwise, both still need to accelerate N weight and both have the same traction.



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One of the primary reasons railroads use distributed power is to increase the pulling power of the trains as the length and weight also increases. By placing additional locomotives in the middle or at the end, the overall pulling power of the multiple locomotives increases, moving the train efficiently and effectively.

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Only freight trains have locomotives on both sides and sometimes in the middle also. The reason for that is traction to push or pull heavy loads.

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World's most powerful electric locomotive Shen24 by CRRC for coal cargo service in China. China: The 28.8 MW 24-axle six-section locomotive develops starting tractive effort of 2,280 and continuous tractive effort of 1,596 kN reaching 120 km/h. Its official operation began in June 2021.

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