Drag freight

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A drag freight is a slow, high-tonnage railroad train, often carrying commodities such as coal or ore. Compared to fast freight trains, drag freight trains have a very low horsepower-to-weight ratio, making them somewhat unpredictible on steep grades or hilly routes. This causes many dispatchers to be extremely conservative with how they handle drag freights, especially when they share lines with higher priority fast freights and passenger trains.

In the mid-20th century, large locomotives such as 2-10-10-2s were typically used for drag freight operations.

[edit] United Kingdom

In the UK, such trains were called mineral trains and the locomotives that hauled them were called mineral locomotives. An example of a mineral locomotive was the LNWR 17in Coal Engine.

The trains were loose-coupled, had no continuous brakes, and were speed-limited to 25 mph. The lack of brake power was a potential hazard and, when approaching a downhill gradient, it was necessary to stop the train and "pin down" the handbrakes on some of the wagons before proceeding.

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