by conrail_engineer
Basically, the longer trains push or exceed the design limits of the equipment.
Under ideal conditions, you can get away with a 14,000 train. As equipment becomes worn, it's less efficient - the marker doesn't broadcast as strong, the head-end doesn't pick it up as well.
Stress on the knuckles increases - the first cars carry nearly the entire weight of the train, and the draft equipment has its limits.
Setup and release of the brakes takes exponentially longer with longer trains.
Bottom line is, railroad management will keep on pushing the envelope to the maximum they can get away with; meantime faulting the crew for separations or delays due to marker failure or hanging-up brakes.
Under ideal conditions, you can get away with a 14,000 train. As equipment becomes worn, it's less efficient - the marker doesn't broadcast as strong, the head-end doesn't pick it up as well.
Stress on the knuckles increases - the first cars carry nearly the entire weight of the train, and the draft equipment has its limits.
Setup and release of the brakes takes exponentially longer with longer trains.
Bottom line is, railroad management will keep on pushing the envelope to the maximum they can get away with; meantime faulting the crew for separations or delays due to marker failure or hanging-up brakes.
