Not sure where to post this, so this option seemed best. Sitting in our room at Main Street Station all week, we have noticed that all the trains have locomotives at the front and also a pusher locomotive at the end where the caboose used to be. Is this something new? Is it only for mountainous areas? I haven't noticed this in the Midwest. I'm sure a VMB'r will know!
It takes a well trained eye to notice! I miss the tracks that used to go through my hometown. Waving at the engineers and hobos as they rode on by the school playground... Those were the days! RICHARD
In years past, I saw coal trains in the hills of SE Ohio that would have 4or 5 engines at the front and 4 or 5 in the middle. They were coming out of eastern KY and the WV mountains.
It is known as distributed power. It reduces slack action on the train, and permits heaver trains with less horsepower, which saves fuel and reduces the amount of locomotives needed. Its advantages really show in the mountains, however it does provide some small advantages in the plains.