Usually moves like this are done due to weight restrictions on certain bridges.
Separating the loco's distributes the weight more evenly over bridges that would otherwise not be able to support the weight.
I wonder if this was the case?
|
The SW1500's do not have alignment control drawbars, so spacing them out this way will help to keep the drawbars straight during the long transit move. They tried moving 5 of these last month, and a series of events caused a derailment enroute causing damage to the SW1500's, you can see some of the damage in this photo: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=318157
|
Oh,i see.
Thanks for the info.
|
I wonder why this move couldn't be handled on the rear of a freight train? Further, with all the experts in the mechanical department, how could someone not know that you don't place 5, non-alignment coupler equipped locomotives, coupled to each other, at the head of a freight train behind the consist?
|
|