Mr. Pwnisher is correct.
Railroads that do not use B units commonly use road slugs in their place, but still effectively use them because they are much cheaper to run and add extra power at a much lower weight.
Any dedicated B unit should have a lower purchase cost and a lower running cost, otherwise there is no reason to ever use them at all.

I would love to see a B23-7 in Southern Tuxedo...

There is cost savings in not providing a Cab full of Innovative Technology and Electronics. including Bathroom, HVAC, and Insulation. Or is all that just free?

Nobody is asking for a B unit to lead. Flexibility in power management and in Train master is incompetence. I fail to see you're argument in this one.

Again, I worked for the BNSF Railroad at a Port , building trains with a Hub Manager, Verifier, Train Master and myself under direct Management.

What experience do you have?

There is no cost savings getting a B unit since it costs no more to operate B units vs all A units.

B units can't lead and you loose flexibility in power management as you would with A units.


There is no way you worked at railroads and being this oblivious to basic facts about railroading. Straight off the bat when you said Cabs are wasted when they are trailing is just batshit stupid

Artificial surcharge is what it sounds like you are describing to me. Railroading on the West is different then the East coast. The West Coast can use B Units and I will stick with that for now.

I guess since railroads finance their locomotives , who cares then right? Oh well. Just put it on credit and let the stock market fix the errors.

@pwnisher the reason why ATSF and BN stopped buying B units is because they were no cheaper to run, had less flexability and GE and EMD charged more to produce them because only 2 railroads in all of north america wanted them. Your whole idea is that cabs are being wasted when they are all A units and that makes no sense.

Manufacturing cost are cheaper, it cost cheaper to make a B Unit. What don't you get? I am speaking English no? I think you are getting Operational cost confused with Manufacturing cost.

I would know, Ive worked in Military Aerospace Manufacturing, for the BNSF and Pacific Harbor Line Railroads at the Port, as well as a Mechanic and PC technician.

come again?

@pwnisher yes because its non-standard

It cost more to make B units

ok defend warren buffett

@pwnisher ok defend warren buffett

@pwnisher Saying B units are useless is not defending him

It costs more to make B units VS ones without

ok defend warren buffet.

@pwnisher No because B units are usless now that everything is 4000hp + and can be used to lead solo

I think it has more to do with union labor laws, switching and the cost of the move.

@pwnisher the cabs are not being wasted.

There are a reason why they stopped getting B units. It's for flexibility. The locos with cabs behind the lead locomotive can go lead a train anywhere in the system when they get off that train. b units can't

B- Units were a good Idea.
Look at all the wasteful cabs the BNSF, UP, CSX and NS paid for on their entire fleet of locomotives. 3\4 cabs are not used. add up all that money warren buffet.

Perfect! This will go great with my new Marias pass map build. Thank you.