When picking up a cut of 30 loaded coal cars to add to your train, where should they be located in the train?

When picking up a cut of 30 loaded coal cars to add to your train, where should they be located in the train?

• A. At the tail of the train
• B. In the middle of the train
• C. On a siding
• D. At the head of the train, directly behind the locomotive/s

Answer: (D)

Put the cut of coal cars directly behind the locomotive, at the front end of the train. This position gives the locomotive immediate control over the added weight, which helps with both pulling power and braking. When the heavy cars are right after the locomotive, slack action is minimized between the locomotive and the rest of the train, leading to smoother starts and stops and reducing shock loads on couplers. It also ensures the air brake system applies through the entire consist more promptly and reliably, since the added cars are integrated into the train’s braking sequence from the outset. If the cut were placed farther back, the locomotive would have to pull a longer chain of cars with more slack developing behind it, making control, braking, and coupling checks more difficult and less safe. A siding isn’t practical for actively forming the train, since the goal is to add the cars into service rather than park them. So the best approach is to place them at the head of the train, directly behind the locomotive.

Put the cut of coal cars directly behind the locomotive, at the front end of the train. This position gives the locomotive immediate control over the added weight, which helps with both pulling power and braking. When the heavy cars are right after the locomotive, slack action is minimized between the locomotive and the rest of the train, leading to smoother starts and stops and reducing shock loads on couplers. It also ensures the air brake system applies through the entire consist more promptly and reliably, since the added cars are integrated into the train’s braking sequence from the outset. If the cut were placed farther back, the locomotive would have to pull a longer chain of cars with more slack developing behind it, making control, braking, and coupling checks more difficult and less safe. A siding isn’t practical for actively forming the train, since the goal is to add the cars into service rather than park them. So the best approach is to place them at the head of the train, directly behind the locomotive.