Head end power on railroad passenger trains

THE IDEA of concentrating electric energy generation at one point in a train, on or behind the locomotive, becomes increasingly attractive with the increase in electric loads on modern passenger cars. The advantages and disadvantages of head end power against those of the conventional d-c axle generator storage battery equipments have been considered. In favor of head end power were simplicity of installation and maintenance, reliability, and elimination of parasitic axle generator drag. The principal argument against head end power lay in its lack of operating flexibility. All cars in such a train must be wired for trainline operation, so that no other cars can be added.