I used to have the same question until I heard an employee for Norfolk Southern explain, on long distance trains they have one or two usually in tow with the ability to switch power to one or both if one of the two running locomotives run low on fuel. Then they could be transporting the locomotive(s) to a specific yard.
Why do they always lash these up with so much power? I'll bet they can notch that thing up and hit 60 mph in 15 seconds!
I used to have the same question until I heard an employee for Norfolk Southern explain, on long distance trains they have one or two usually in tow with the ability to switch power to one or both if one of the two running locomotives run low on fuel. Then they could be transporting the locomotive(s) to a specific yard.