Railpictures.ca - John Eull Photo: Winter snows linger but spring is definitely coming as CN road switcher 538 makes its way back to Hamilton with some container traffic on head end. Two SW120RS units were the normal power for this train (1204 and 1320 today). | Railpictures.ca – Canadian Railway Photography

Winter snows linger but spring is definitely coming as CN road switcher 538 makes its way back to Hamilton with some container traffic on head end. Two SW120RS units were the normal power for this train (1204 and 1320 today).

Caption: Winter snows linger but spring is definitely coming as CN road switcher 538 makes its way back to Hamilton with some container traffic on head end. Two SW120RS units were the normal power for this train (1204 and 1320 today).

Photographer:	John Eull [424] (more) (contact)
Date:	3/19/1977 (search)
Railway:	Canadian National (search)
Reporting Marks:	CN 1204 (search)
Train Symbol:	538 (search)
Subdivision/SNS:	Bayview (search)
City/Town:	Hamilton (search)
Province:	Ontario (search)
Share Link:	http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=32818

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Photo ID: 31640

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2 Comments

BradKetchen

April 1, 2018 at 7:48 am

Running CP style.. CN used to run them nose to nose.
John Eull

April 1, 2018 at 9:40 am

Actually, locomotive orientation is typically determined by engineer visibility requirements–best view forward, which side most switch stands are on in yards (that’s why yard units in Hamilton generally have the engineer on “bay” side), and–to a lesser extent–turning facilities. In the case of Hamilton, it was a short trip out to the wye at Bayview if an engine needed to be turned.

So, in the 1960s and 1970s, “back-to-back” was normal and also the most flexible arrangement for the return trip on road switchers requiring two units.

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BradKetchen

April 1, 2018 at 7:48 am

Running CP style.. CN used to run them nose to nose.

John Eull

April 1, 2018 at 9:40 am

Actually, locomotive orientation is typically determined by engineer visibility requirements–best view forward, which side most switch stands are on in yards (that’s why yard units in Hamilton generally have the engineer on “bay” side), and–to a lesser extent–turning facilities. In the case of Hamilton, it was a short trip out to the wye at Bayview if an engine needed to be turned.

So, in the 1960s and 1970s, “back-to-back” was normal and also the most flexible arrangement for the return trip on road switchers requiring two units.