Freight and Double-Headed

[Legolash2o]

Do freight operations often run double-headed trains and are there situations where a consist would have 2x Class 66 leading locomotives with only the front one powered? Empty returns maybe?

And how many are usually Top & Tail (locomotive at the front and back)?

 

[D6975]

Getting locos moved without paying for an extra path is the commonest reason.. Down my way there's even a freight that's two trains stuck together to avoid the extra path, second loco in the middle of the consist.

 

[Legolash2o]

Getting locos moved without paying for an extra path is the commonest reason.. Down my way there's even a freight that's two trains stuck together to avoid the extra path, second loco in the middle of the consist.

Thanks D6975, I'm assuming the loco in the middle isn't powered?

 

[martin2345uk]

Thanks D6975, I'm assuming the loco in the middle isn't powered?

It is not.

 

[_toommm_]

Do freight operations often run double-headed trains and are there situations where a consist would have 2x Class 66 leading locomotives with only the front one powered? Empty returns maybe?

And how many are usually Top & Tail (locomotive at the front and back)?

The nuclear trains are normally double-headed, often with a 68 and an 88, although I’ve seen 66 and 88 down towards Bridgwater. The 86’s were pretty much always double headed, as are the 90s currently.

 

[156444]

See it relatively often down my way.

The Scunthorpe to Eastleigh rail train operated by GBRf often has a second loco dead in train.

The longer DB stone trains are operated by two 66s in multi - they change where they operate to and from, but there was a Tytherington to Appleford flow for a while.

Freightliner sometimes have locos (66s or 70s) dead in train in the container trains from the North to Southampton.

I've also seen DB top and tailing the Southampton to Masborough container train with 66s. The rear 66 is then taken off at Didcot when the train passes through Didcot Yard - I think they do it to get the 66 from the Cowley car train back to Didcot, presumably there being no return trip of car carriers on those occasions.

The Mendip stone trains can also have locos dead in train to get them back to Merehead or Whatley - I've seen one with 59001, 59101 and 59201 on the front, for example.

Also the Hinksey to Easleigh engineering trains run by Colas can have a second loco dead in train, sometimes even a DB loco.

A couple of years ago now the Northolt to Severnside bin liner was run by DB with top and tail 66s - not sure why, it's back to a single loco now.

 

[themiller]

RHTTs are normally tnt.
Nuclear flask trains sometimes tnt.
Engineering trains are sometimes tnt when they have to leave the site the same way they entered it.

 

[12LDA28C]

Do freight operations often run double-headed trains and are there situations where a consist would have 2x Class 66 leading locomotives with only the front one powered? Empty returns maybe?

And how many are usually Top & Tail (locomotive at the front and back)?

Freight trains that travel to a destination that does not have any run-round facility are usually top-and-tailed, such as ballast trains or other engineering trains entering a possession , especially if they need to leave the possession the same way they entered.

As themiller said, RHTT are often top-and-tailed due to having to reverse at various locations along their circuit, often at terminal platforms

 

[Mollman]

DRS have been operating pairs of 66s and 68s recently in place of 88s (which I've seen as single, in pairs or one powered and one dead in train) on some of the Daventry - Mossend / Grangemouth services. A lot of Anglo-Scottish container trains over the West Coast are double headed to allow decent speed over the hills and provide some level of contingency in case of failure on what is a very busy route.

 

[richieb1971]

From my general knowledge -

2 old BO BO's (8 wheel locos) on freight would be double headed for traction purposes on steep hills
1 loco on each end is to aid with bi-directional travel / Sometimes to aid power at both ends like the HOBC
2 on nuclear in case 1 fails.

And Lastly, one loco powered, the other not (DIT - Dead in tow). This is either a loco move without generating a separate path (its faulty, it just needs moving) or its required in the same direction anyway.