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

HP per Ton

Southern Transcon, East

On the Southern Transcon, trains east of Clovis, NM should be regulated to 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

Additional units may be placed UIT on the train in preparation for steeper grades west of Clovis.

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

HP per Ton

CN appears to target 1.0 HP/T for intermodal trains to/from Western Canada - note that CN has a very lightly graded route to both Vancouver and Prince Rupert, in contrast to other transcontinental routes.

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.

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
Autorack	10,000

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

Weight

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

Horsepower per Ton

UP expresses train limits as TPA, or Tons per Powered Axle. These can be approximately translated to HP/Ton limits.

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.