| Posted by Phil1T on June 15, 2011 | |
It is interesting to see a beautiful steam engine being pushed by another train.
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As a long time steam locomotive fan, I often felt it was an insult to a steam locomotive to be pushed by a diesel loco. I came to find out that most of the diesel loco's were there only to supply electrical power for the cars in the consist. The diesel loco's power the air conditioning, lighting, dining cars, etc. Plus, they help with braking. The diesels are very rarely used for power, but handy to have to keep from excessively laboring the steam loco's that are sometimes heavily laden with passengers & cars. I became a railfan at the end of steam legacy & I'd often see a steam loco on the front of a diesel loco helping the diesel up a grade or moving a heavy consist.
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