End Cab Switchers

witchers are a type of locomotive that have been in operation since the steam era, designed and meant for use in yard, transfer, and light freight duties. As you might expect this type of locomotive is not particularly powerful and steam designs were distinguishable from others as they almost always lacked front and rear axles. During the diesel era units became smaller and more compact although they were also more versatile since they could more easily be used in freight service despite most lacking dynamic brakes, which limited them to light duties working branch lines and locals. By the 1960s and 1970s many railroads stopped purchasing most true switcher models, instead opting to either use those already in service or add less powerful road-switchers to their fleets (such as GP15s, GP40s, GP50s, etc.).

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