Why is the second engine of a train always facing backward?

Question

Whenever there are multiple train engines, there is always one facing backward; what is the purpose of this?

Answer 1

Well, they aren't *always* that way...

I just checked today's most recent pics and found this on page 1:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=148213

In all reality, in many cases, there isn't a reason why a locomotive in a consist is facing a particular direction. Power is power, and when multiple engines are needed to MU and power a train, direction is irrelevant as they have equal pulling power in forward and reverse.

Many locomotives can run "long hood forward" as well:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=100623

There are many consists that are assembled, indeed, to have a locomotive cab leading in each direction, due to lack of turning facilities or to save on having to complete a turning on a wye.

So while locomotives can be MUed in any direction and there isn't always rhyme nor reason, when multiple engines are required for a train, it helps to make up for lack of turning facilities to put them with cabs facing opposite directions.

Answer 2

There is no reason for this. Sometimes when you see unit trains, like grain or coal, there is often 1 or 2 on the front, and one on the rear facing backwards, this is because this train operates between point A and B on a regular basis. It's a pain to have to assign another locomotive to the train because the first isn't pointing in the direction of travel. On other trains, it's just the way they're assigned. Obviously, on the newer models, the first one is pointing in the direction of travel, but the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc..etc are just they way they were facing when they were assigned.
Also, if you wanted to know why there is often locomotives in the middle or rear, I believe it's to prevent coupler strain.

Answer 3

It isn't nessesary for a train to have a locomotive facing backwards. Today, On a CSXT Line, I saw 2 leased UP Locomotives running both forward. Some railroads do this so that a train crew can switch cabs to return a train the other direction.

Answer 4

Indeed, the above answer put it best, the only reason this is done is so that the cab of at least one of the locomotives is facing foward, no matter which direction they are heading (multiples locomotives are "MU'ed" meaning that the lead locomotive can control all others in a consist). As an additional note, when you see this, locomotives can operate whichever way they may be facing, so if one is facing "backward" it really has no effect over the locomotive's operations.

Answer 5

Two to four or so locos can usually be coupled together to operate automatically, without any special provisions, with the crew manning only one of them. (This mode of operation is known as ‘Multiple Unit’ operation, or ‘MU’.)

Using more than about 4 or 5 locos together without some form of automatic control for them is problematic because couplings come under excessive strain and break. A system known as ‘Locotrol’ is used .3 to 5 locos at the head of a train, and one or two somewhere in the middle of the train, and possibly another two or three at the rear. The locos at the middle and rear of the train are radio-controlled by the crew at the head of the train. This system is used in some places for heavy freight sections.

well bascially it is used for power and usually the train with two or more locos have the designagnation A and B .The engine which is running is treated as the master engine and the one helping it is known as the slave................

Answer 6

It sounds like you are describing a "push-pull" The plan is that when the train reaches its destination there is no need to turn the train arround. The engeneer just walks to the other end of the train and the back becomes the front.

Answer 7

So the conductor dosent have to drive backwards. You cant do a 3 point turn in a train on tracks.

Answer 8

To go the other direction. Some places such as around where I live there is no turn around, so they just use the other engine to reverse and go the direction they came.

Answer 9

if it goes into a terminating station...then this is an engine at the front!! its standard formation of mdu's (multiple diesel units)