DECATUR -- A train is not a train without cars and a locomotive or two. Likewise, locomotives without cars do not make up a train. Every day, Decatur area residents are used to seeing trains, both cars and locomotives together, rolling down the tracks past the Decatur depot. But an unusual sight rolled down the track May 12 and it was not a train.
Two Kansas City Southern SD 70AG locomotives and a Union Pacific GP 50 locomotive were deadheading northbound for parts unknown Tuesday morning, possibly on a mission to assist a broken down unit or heading to a rail yard to pick up rail cars.
Usually, locomotives travel either as helper engines on the train or deadhead on the end of the train. What makes the trio of locomotives so unique is the lead SD 70 unit was running "long nose" with the engine end or long end of the train driving in the direction of travel, in this case forward. For this engine, KSC 4004, was running in reverse, something made famous in the movie "Unstoppable." The storyline of this movie featured a single locomotive they hooked up to a runaway train while running entirely in reverse, like KSC 4004.
The other two units, the second of which was cab-to-cab with 4004 were both running forward, it is highly likely that both engines were in a neutral setting with 4004 providing the only power.
In the very early days of the railroad, locomotives could only run in one direction. The roundtable comes into play to point the train in its forward position. The modern diesel-electrics can run in either direction.
Generally, all railroads run with the cab (short end) in the forward position for better crew visibility. Only on a rare occasion, like this one, do they run a locomotive long nose.
As for the single locomotive in "Unstoppable," well, you will have to rent the movie to find out how it ends.
General News on 05/20/2020