Question for the lit bulbs in the audience What does the term "drag freight" mean? As opposed to what kind of freight? Where did it originate?
William, check this: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/004/880mhnwt.asp Drag freight was from the days when schedule was not as important as tonnage. Put as many cars as possible on the train and let it drag the cars out of town. The engine needed lots of drawbar pull and not so much speed. Compound mallets, among others, fulfilled this requirement. Later, fast freights were the order of the day. That is, fast freights as opposed to drag freights. I think that is close.
Phew, I thought we were talking about a freight train dressing up as a passenger train on the weekends......
Lower priority, non-perishables. Repositioning of company cars, work equipment, empties. Would do some local switching along the way. Often underpowered, would slog along at less than track speed, with maximum tonnage on a drawbar. Also known on the Milwaukee Road, as a "dead freight." Boxcab E50
