Train Makeup

Railroads define various restrictions on train makeup. These can be attributes of the entire train - length, weight, HP per Ton - or on the arrangement of locomotives and cars within a train.

BNSF

Length

Description	Length (ft)	Distance (ft) between DP consists
Non-DPU	10,000
One DPU consist, Intermodal		10,000
One DPU consist, other		8,500
Multiple DPU consists	13,000	6,500 between each consist

Locomotives

Trains are limited in power by Rated Powered Axles (RPA). BNSF system instructions (as of 2010) allow for two possible DPU configurations:

• One DPU consist, at least halfway through the train (including placement at the rear-end)
• Two DPU consists, with one mid-train consist (within 20 cars of the middle of the train), and one rear-end consist.

When using DPU, the total Rated Powered Axles of the leading consist cannot exceed the RPA of remote consists by more than 16.

Empty bulk trains are limited to a maximum of 9000 HP, and at least one locomotive must be active in each DP consist, meaning that empty bulk trains running with DP must have one locomotive active at the head end, and one active at the rear.

Description	Head end RPA	Mid train RPA	Rear end RPA
Intermodal	48	24	16
Manifest	42	24	16
Empty Bulk	16	8	8
Loaded Bulk	32	40	24

Rated Powered Axle listing

Locomotive	RPA
All SW/GP units not otherwise listed	4
GP60M / GP60B	5
All SD units not otherwise listed	6
SD60 / SD60M	7
SD70M	7
SD75M	7
C40-8	7
C44-9W	8
ES44DC	8
AC440CW	8
ES44AC	8
ES44C4	8?
SD70MAC	8
SD70ACe	8

HP per Ton

Southern Transcon, East

On the Southern Transcon, trains east of Clovis, NM should be regulated to (i.e. must not exceed) the following maximum HP/Ton limits:

Train Symbol	HP/T
Z, section numbers 7-9	3.0
Z, section numbers 1-6	2.5
Q, S, H, or M	2.0

On most sections of line, these limits are very generous, and trains can run at much lower HP/T ratings - although high priority Z trains do often run at or near these limits.

Additional units are routinely carried UIT on westbound trains in preparation for steeper grades west of Clovis, or having been set UIT after passing Clovis eastbound.

Southern Transcon, West

West of Clovis, trains must meet a minimum of 1.4 HP per Ton.

Cajon Pass

Trains proceeding over Cajon Pass must meet the following restrictions:

Train Description	HP/T Cajon Westbound	HP/T Cajon Eastbound	Tons Cajon Westbound	Tons Cajon Eastbound
DP Intermodal	1.8	2.3
DP Coal	1.8	2.3
DP Other	1.8	2.3
Intermodal	2.0	2.5	11,500	8,500
Coal	2.0	2.5	11,500	8,500
Other	2.0	2.5	8,500	6,500

CN

Length

The Western region is defined as all lines west of Winnipeg, and the Eastern region as all lines east of there.

Intermodal trains 111, 112, 114, and 115 are specially excepted from Eastern Region rules, following Western Region rules instead.

Manifest trains between Winnipeg and Toronto are occasionally permitted to exceed the 8,500ft length limitation, though siding length restrictions prevent all trains from exceeding this limit.

Description	Length (ft), Western Region	Length (ft), Eastern Region	Length (ft), US South Region	Maximum distance (ft) between DPU consists
Non-DPU Intermodal	10,500	10,000	10,500
Non-DPU manifest	10,500	8,500 (see exceptions above)	10,500
DPU Intermodal	16,000	10,000 (see exceptions above)	12,000	11,200
DPU Manifest	11,750	8,500 (see exceptions above)	10,500	10,500

Locomotives

Each locomotive consist may contain up to 18 powered axles.

HP per Ton

The Western region is defined as all lines west of Winnipeg, and the Eastern region as all lines east of there.

Description	Minimum HP/T, Western Region	Minimum HP/T, Eastern Region	Minimum HP/T, US South Region
Intermodal	0.6	1.0	0.8
Manifest	0.45	0.75	0.75

Note that higher restrictions may apply on steeply graded routes.

CP

Length

The maximum distance between the head-end locomotives and the rear-most DP consist is 10,000 feet.

Locomotives

A train may have up to 3 DP consists throughout the train. Consists are limited by Equivalent Driving Axles (EA). A "Heavy Bulk" train is defined as one where all cars exceed 100 tons and are 65 ft or less in length.

Description	Head end EA	Mid train EA	Rear end EA
Standard	24	24	12
Heavy Bulk	30	24	12

On conventional (non-DP) trains and Heavy Bulk trains, up to 30 axles may used on the head end on the following routes:

• Vancouver, BC to Montreal, QC
• Calgary, AB to Edmonton, AB
• Dunmore, AB - Lethbridge, AB - Sparwood, BC - Fort Steele, BC - Kingsgate, ID
• Fort Steele, BC - Golden, BC
• Moose Jaw, SK - Portal, ND

On all other routes cleared for 6-axle power, only 24 axles may be used. On routes cleared for only 4-axle power, only 16 axles may be used.

When carrying locomotives dead in tow, the total number of locomotives in a consist must not exceed 8.

Equivalent Driving Axle listing

Locomotive	Equivalent Axles, without PTC/QEG	Equivalent Axles, with PTC/QEG	Haulage Rating, without PTC/QEG	Haulage Rating, with PTC/QEG
GP7u	4	4	1000	1000
GP9u	4	4	1000	1000
GP38	4	5	1000	1300
GP40	4	4	1000	1000
SD40	6	7	1500	1790
SD60	8	8	2000	2000
AC4400CW	9	12	2220	2950
SD70MAC	9	12	2220	2950
SD70ACe	9	12	2220	2950
SD90MAC	9	12	2220	2950

GP7u and GP9u units may only operate in multiple with each other, and not any other class of locomotive.

Weight / HP per Ton

CP calculates weight / HP per Ton limits based on Haulage Rating (varies by locomotive) and Haulage Factor (varies by subdivision).

The limit is calculated by:

1. Sum the Haulage Rating of all locomotives. If the train does not have DP, this value is capped at 7500 in 30 driving axle territory, and 7160 in 24 driving axle territory, even if the available locomotives exceed it.
2. Find the ruling Haulage Factor of the subdivision/route
3. Multiply 1 by 2 to get the maximum weight in tons

Haulage Ratings

Locomotive	Haulage Rating, without PTC/QEG	Haulage Rating, with PTC/QEG
GP7u	1000	1000
GP9u	1000	1000
GP38	4	5	1000	1300
GP40	1000	1000
SD40	1500	1790
SD60	2000	2000
AC4400CW	2220	2950
SD70MAC	2220	2950
SD70ACe	2220	2950
SD90MAC	2220	2950

Haulage Capacities

The following values are the limiting factors across the whole subdivision. HP/T values are computed for 6-axle AC locomotives.

These values are dated to the early/mid 2000s, and are possibly to be overestimates of modern HP/T values for DP trains.

Subdivision	Start	End	Haulage Factor	HP/T
Cascade	Vancouver, BC	North Bend, BC	1.92	0.8
Thompson	North Bend, BC	Kamloops, BC	2.15	0.7
Shuswap	Kamloops, BC	Revelstoke, BC	1.58	1.0
Mountain	Revelstoke, BC	Field, BC	0.83	1.8
Windermere	Golden, BC	Fort Steele, BC	2.72	0.6
Cranbrook	Cranbrook, BC (Fort Steele, BC)	Crowsnest, BC	1.6	1.0
Fording River	Sparwood, BC	Fording, BC	(Downgrade for loaded trains)
Moyie	Cranbrook, BC	Kingsgate, ID	1.75	0.9
Nelson	Curzon, BC (Jct Moyie Sub)	Nelson, BC	1.6	1.0
Boundary	Nelson, BC	Castlegar, BC	1.9	0.8
Rossland	Castlegar, BC	Trail, BC	0.5	3.0
Laggan	Field, BC	Calgary, AB	0.83 (EB), 2.03 (WB)	1.8 (EB), 0.8 (WB)
Brooks	Calgary, AB	Medicine Hat, AB	1.68	0.9
Maple Creek	Medicine Hat, AB	Swift Current, SK	1.88 (EB), 3.2 (WB),	0.8 (EB), 0.5 (WB)
Aldersyde	Lethbridge, AB	Calgary, AB	2.4	0.7
Taber	Lethbridge, AB	Dunmore, AB (Jct Maple Creek Sub)	2.0	0.8
Montana	Lethbridge, AB	Sweet Grass, MT	1.6	0.9
Crowsnest	Crowsnest, BC	Lethbridge, AB	1.77	1.0
Red Deer	Calgary, AB	Red Deer, AB	1.85	0.8
Leduc	Red Deer, AB	Edmonton, AB	2.2	0.7
Wetaskiwin	Hardisty, AB	Wetaskiwin, AB (Jct Leduc Sub)	1.9	0.8
Scotford	Edmonton, AB	Scotford, AB	3.2	0.5
Brandon	Broadview, SK	Brandon, MB	3.2	0.5
Carberry	Brandom, MB	Winnipeg, MB	6.0 (EB), 2.8 (WB)	0.3 (EB), 0.6 (WB)
Bredenbury	Bredenbury, SK	Minnedosa, MB	1.52 (EB), 1.1 (WB)	1.0 (EB), 1.4 (WB)
Minnedosa	Minnedosa, MB	Portage La Prairie, MB	1.7	0.9
Kenora	Winnipeg, MB	Kenora, ON	3.3	0.5
Ignace	Kenora, ON	Ignace, ON	3.3	0.5
Emerson	Winnipeg, MB	Noyes, MN	5.0	0.3
La Riviere	Winnipeg, MB	La Riviere, MB	1.72	0.9
Kaministiquia	Ignace, ON	Thunder Bay, ON	3.3 (EB), 1.9 (WB)	0.5 (EB), 0.8 (WB)
Nipigon	Thunder Bay, ON	Schreiber, ON	1.7	0.9
Heron Bay	Schreiber, ON	White River, ON	1.7	0.9
White River	White River, ON	Chapleau, ON	1.7	0.9
Nemegos	Chapleau, ON	Cartier, ON	1.7	0.9
Cartier	Cartier, ON	Coniston (Sudbury), ON	1.66	0.9
Parry Sound	Romford (Sudbury), ON	Mactier, ON	3.15	0.5
Mactier	Toronto, ON	Mactier, ON	2.30	0.7
Windsor	Detroit, MI	London, ON	1.76	0.9
Galt	London, ON	Toronto, ON	3.20 (EB), 1.70 (WB)	0.5 (EB), 0.9 (WB)
Belleville	Toronto, ON	Smiths Falls, ON	2.10 (EB), 2.90 (WB)	0.7 (EB), 0.5 (WB)
Hamilton	Guelph Jct, ON (Jct Galt Sub)	Niagara Falls, ON	1.83 (EB), 0.90 (WB)	0.8 (EB), 1.7 (WB)
Winchester	Smiths Falls, ON	Dorion, QC	3.20	0.5
Vaudreuil	Dorion, QC	Montreal, QC	3.14	0.5

CSX

Train Length and Weight

Network-wide restrictions for train length and weight are as follows:

Non-DPU

Attribute	Intermodal	Manifest	Bulk	Automotive
Length (ft)	12,000	10,000	10,000	10,000
Weight (tons)	14,000	14,000	18,000	10,000

DPU

Attribute	Intermodal	Manifest	Bulk	Automotive
Length (ft)	14,000	12,000	12,000	14,000
Weight (tons)	16,000	20,000	24,000	14,000

DP units must be no further than 7,000 feet from the head end of the train.

These limits may be further reduced on a local basis by siding infrastructure or other local restrictions, and may be exceeded by specially designated trains or with special approval.

NS

Length

DPU consists must not be separated by more than 8,500 ft.

In manifest trains, 50-75% of the train's tonnage must be ahead of mid-train DP consists. This limitation does not apply to trains received in interchange.

When ambient temperatures drop below 34F, a maximum train length if 10,000ft is recommended; further length reductions are recommended, down to 4,000ft below -16F. When a train has DP consists, this recommended length restriction applies to the maximum distance between any car and the nearest DP consist.

Locomotives

Trains are limited in power by equivalent conventional powered axles (EPA) as listed below (as of 2019). DC high-adhesion axles count as 1 1/3 conventional powered axles each, and AC powered axles count as 1 1/2 conventional powered axles each

Description	Head end EPA	Mid train EPA	Rear end EPA
Standard	27	18	18
Loaded Coal	32	18	18, 24 where authorised
Loaded Bulk up to 100 cars	32	18	18, 24 where authorised
Loaded Bulk over 100 cars	27	18	18, 24 where authorised

Lead and DP consists must not differ by more than one locomotive - i.e. 3 locomotives leading and 1 DP locomotive is not permitted.

Equivalent Powered Axle listing

Locomotive	EPA
All SW/GP units not otherwise listed	4
GP33ECO	5.33
GP59 / GP59E	5.33
GP60	5.33
SD60/SD60I/SD60M/SD60E	8
All SD units not otherwise listed	6
SD60E	8
SD70 / SD70M / SD70M-2	8
SD75M	8
C40-8	8
C40-9W	8
AC44C6M	9
ES44DC	8
ES44AC	9
ET44AC	9
SD70ACe	9
SD70ACe-T4	9
SD70ACu	9
SD80MAC	9

UP

Length

East

Restrictions for train makeup east of Picacho AZ, Cheyenne WY, and Denver CO are as follows:

Description	Length (ft)	Distance (ft) between DP consists
Non-DPU	10,000
One DPU consist, Intermodal	15,000	10,000
One DPU consist, other	15,000	10,000
Multiple DPU consists	18,000 (15,000 if no rear DPU)	6,000
Autorack	10,000

Trains exceeding 60 loaded autoracks must place all autoracks at the rear of the train. Trains exceeding 80 loaded autoracks cannot contain more than 5 non-autorack cars.

West

Restrictions for train makeup west of Picacho AZ, Cheyenne WY, and Denver CO are as follows:

Description	Length (ft)	Distance (ft) between DP consists
Non-DPU	10,000
One DPU consist, Intermodal	15,000	10,000
One DPU consist, other	15,000	8,500
Multiple DPU consists	18,000 (15,000 if no rear DPU)	6,000 between each consist
Autorack	10,000

Trains containing 60 or more autoracks are limited to 80 cars.

West

West of North Platte, Denver, and El Paso, the following trailing tonnage/car placement restrictions apply:

Empty intermodal cars cannot have more than 4,500 tons of weight behind them in the train.

Loaded spine cars cannot have more than 5,500 tons of weight behind them in the train.

Locomotives

Trains are limited in power by equivalent powered axles (EPA). Where multiple mid-train DPU consists exist, each is limited separately. A table of EPA ratings is given underneath the EPA limits table, along with an approximate conversion for six-axle AC locomotives (AC4400CW, ES44AC, ES44AH, SD70MAC, SD70ACe, SD70AH, etc.) in the table itself.

Description	Head end EPA	Mid train EPA	Rear end EPA	Head end AC locomotives	Mid train AC locomotives	Rear end AC locomotives
Intermodal	62	48	24	5	4	2
Manifest	52 (36 if grade exceeds 1.9%)	48	24	4 (3)	4	2
Empty Bulk	52 (36 if grade exceeds 1.9%)	36	24	4 (3)	3	2
Loaded Bulk	52 (36 if grade exceeds 1.9%)	55	28	4 (3)	4	2

Local Restrictions

All trains processing over Cajon Pass are limited to 36 EPA.

Equivalent Powered Axle listing

Note that non-UP-owned ES44AC and ES44AH units may not be capable of CTE mode.

Locomotive	EPA	EPA, 5/6 traction motors	EPA, 4/6 traction motors	EPA, 3/6 traction motors	EPA, remote consist in CTE mode	EPA, remote CTE, 5/6 traction motors	EPA, remote CTE, 4/6 traction motors	EPA, remote CTE, 3/6 traction motors
C40-8, C40-8W	7.8
C41-8, C41-8W	10.1
C44-9, C44-9W	11.5
ES40DC	10.1
ES44DC	11.5
SW1500	3.7
MP15	4.0
GP9	4.0
GP15-1	3.9
GP22	5.1
GP38-2	4.5
GP39-2	4.5
GP40-2	5.0
GP50	6.5
GP60	8.0
SD38-2	5.4
SD40-2, SD40N, SD30Eco	7.1
SD45	7.0
SD50	9.2
SD59MX	7.1
SD60, SD60M	9.9
SD70, SD70M	10.4
SD75	10.3
C44AC, C44/60AC, C44ACCCA, C6044AC	12.1	11.0	8.0	6.0
C44ACCTE, C45ACCTE, C45AH, C44ACM, ES44AC, ES44AH	12.1				11.0	11.0	8.0	6.0
CW60AC	12.1	12.0	11.0	8.0
SD70MAC	10.4			6.0
SD70ACe, SD70AH	12.0			7.0	11.0
SD70AH-T4	12.0	12.0	12.0	9.0	11.0
SD9043AC	11.6			7.0

HP per Ton

UP expresses train limits as TPA, or Tons per Powered Axle. These can be approximately translated to HP/Ton limits - the numbers below assume AC units at 4400 HP and 12.1 EPA.

Location	Minimum TPA	Minimum HP/T
Cascade Subdivision (Eugene OR - Klamath Falls OR)	170	2.1 (summer), 2.4 (winter)
Donner Pass, west slope	165	2.2
Tehachapi Pass, west slope	188	1.9

Trains over Cajon Pass must meet BNSF HP/T minimums.