Why do they put engines in the middle of trains?

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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Traditionally, locomotives pulled trains from the front. However, push-pull operation has become common, where the train may have a locomotive (or locomotives) at the front, at the rear, or at each end.

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Although there are trains where the engine is in the back or in the middle, typically, the train engine is in the front. The main reason is that the control system and engineering design is easier and more effective when the train engine pulls (i.e. the engine in front) than to push (i.e. engine in the back).

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Anyway, the reason for using two locomotives is pretty simple. Twice the number of locomotives means twice the power. This extra power boost is used for especially heavy loads or for trains going up steep grades.

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Pulling loaded coal cars? Once the train is rolling, an engine with 110,000 lb tractive effort should be able to maintain 11-12 mph with at least 200 cars-- maybe 300 or more.

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As wireless technologies advanced in the 1960s, freight railroads began adding extra locomotives to the rear of trains to give them enough power to climb steep hills. This is how distributed power was born.

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However, besides temperature there are other reasons to leave an engine running. Among these are to preserve a supply of air to the trains air brake system or to ensure the locomotives batteries remain charged.

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Yes, locomotive engines typically have a toilet, also known as a lavatory or restroom, for the use of the crew members who operate the train.

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Neither the conductor nor the engineer is allowed to sleep on the train. They must be awake and alert throughout their entire shift. So, where do they sleep? After their shift, conductors and engineers sleep either at home or in a motel at an away terminal.

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Hopper toilet The hole in the floor (also known as a drop chute toilet or direct flush toilet) system is still in use in many parts of the world, particularly on older rolling stock.

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Yes, diesel engines are always running in case you didn't know! We don't see any other type of train doing this, but only diesel locomotives leave their engine running always. In case you haven't noticed, diesel trains are never turned off. They are always left running.

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Engines may be left idling to maintain important safety related functions such as maintaining engine temperature, air pressure for the brake system, the integrity of the starting systems, the electrical system and providing heating or cooling to a train's crew and/or passengers.

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The life expectancy of diesel-electric and electric locomotives is expected to be similar—about 25 years. Both types of motive power are subject to technological obsolescence.

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The giant two-stroke, turbocharged engine and electrical generator provide the huge amount of power needed to pull heavy loads at high speeds. Cummins' locomotive engine weighs over 24,000 pounds (10,886 kilograms). The generator and electric motors add more mass on top of that.

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High-speed trains can generally reach 300–350 km/h (190–220 mph). On mixed-use HSR lines, passenger train service can attain peak speeds of 200–250 km/h (120–160 mph).

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