>>5679209>Did this change with diesel trains?Yes and no. Sometimes big diesels will be used as "road switchers", meaning they can do both. A good example of this is the SD40-2 design that the Maersk Train is based on. They can be found on both long-haul trains and short local trains that require constant pick-ups and drop-offs of cars (If you've seen Unstoppable, it's exactly what Will & Frank are doing until they get caught up in the crazy shit)
The "rules" for operation were bent somewhat with diesels because of their inherent flexibility. Small locomotives can be found on long mainline trains alongside bigger diesels, and on occasion you will see a large locomotive doing switcher work.
While I'm on the subject, diesel locomotives are classed by 'axle' instead of wheel count. So the one in my photo here is referred to a six-axle diesel, as most large ones are. Four-axle diesels (60052's locomotive is a perfect example) see a lot of work with smaller trains and constructing or breaking down the bigger trains in the yard due to their lower power, lower weight/tractive effort and easier operation on tighter curves.
THis is all strictly speaking about north american railroading. I don't know how the euros work theirs, but it's reasonable to assume they do the same thing.
