In the past 2 years I seen quite a few UP engines running in Indiana. Was this always the case? Why are they running here? I thought that they didn't own any track here. I'm not conplaining though, because I really do like UP. Thanks for any info on this.
Mustangman79- We get a lot of UP down south here also. I wish I could answer your question, but I can only guess. It probably has to do with paying back power to the other roads. My question would be, is this more of a modern phenomenon or have railroads historically practiced this cooperative activity? Would you have ever seen UP running with C&O for instance? Anyway, NS, CSX, and CP run down here and I see UP mixed in with all of them from time to time. It is not uncommon for BNSF to be found running with NS. Also, when I'm out west on business I see the eastern roads running all over out there with UP. Maybe someone out there who works for a railroad could explain?
Rather than change the whole locomotive consist out upon interchange, most railroads will agree in some form or another to "Run Through" with the existing power. Either by combining locomotives from the respective railroads, or by using one railroad's power all the way through to final destination. Then, keeping account of the mileage, the locomotive consist "borrower", will then "repay" these miles with some of their own power given to the other railroad to use somewhere on their own rails.
Like already said, a lot of railroads have run thru service and when reaching the interchange point no longer swap off power, just crews. One example is CSXT Q131 a loaded intermodal train out of Detroit, Mi for various points in Mexico. It operates Conrail Shared Assets out of Detroit then CSXT and ex Conrail line thru Indianapolis to St Louis where it hands it over to the UP for delivery to Mexico. The return train Q132 runs just the opposite and normally the UP (also SP, DRGW) power goes all the way thru to Detroit and returns back to the UP on Q131 thus you will see UP power thru Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. This is just one example.
