Top and tail

Top and tail

A top and tail railway train is a has locomotives at both ends, for ease of changing direction. This is a UK term. It is normal for only the leading loco to power the train when in top and tail mode, "cf" push pull operation with both locos powering.

It is properly distinct from a push-pull train, which has a locomotive at one end and a control cab at the other end.

Trains going up zig zags of the Khyber Pass are top-and-tailed, although Pakistan Railways calls this by a different term.

In Japan, the term "push-pull" is confusingly used to describe trains top-and-tailed with a locomotive at either end. (True push-pull operation with a locomotive at one end is not seen on Japanese mainline railways.)

Stations and Yards serviceable by Top and Tail

Australia

* Minto Inland Port
* Tahmoor colliery - balloon loop now faces wrong way.
* Macquarie Generation - operates coal trains on spot market where ballon loops and sidings often face the wrong way.

* Rail Transport Museum of New South Wales operates trains between Sydney and Thirlmere with a steam engine at one end and a diesel engine at the other. The steam engine is at the front whenever passengers are on board.


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