Why do some Pacific Surfliners need a Diesel engine at both ends?

[homersimpson101]

Why do some Pacific Surfliners need a Diesel engine at both ends, when the last car is usually a cab car? For example, I saw a charger loco pulling the train and an cabbage loco at the end. Why is that when the last Surfliner car is supposed to be a cab car?

 

[Cal]

The cab-cars (and equipment in general recently) have been breaking. That's why we've seen some dash-8s come out and the comets being used.

 

[TinCan782]

Perhaps it is when a "protect" engine is being moved between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Not sure now but in the past such an engine was regularly kept in San Diego.

 

[Cal]

Perhaps it is when a "protect" engine is being moved between Los Angeles and San Diego.
Not sure now but in the past such an engine was regularly kept in San Diego.

Protect engines are still kept in San Diego, but I'm pretty sure the recent engine additions have been due to cab-car problems, not equipment moves.

 

[west point]

2 locos certainly makes for more reliable service and keeps the trains closer to on time. + when one loco quits more likely not to strand anyone in the boonies. It does seem a lot of problems are still coming from PTC problems.

 

[Steve4031]

An engine at each end allows trains to pull into LAUPT and then pull out if it is a through service from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

 

[Cal]

2 locos certainly makes for more reliable service and keeps the trains closer to on time. + when one loco quits more likely not to strand anyone in the boonies. It does seem a lot of problems are still coming from PTC problems.

An engine at each end allows trains to pull into LAUPT and then pull out if it is a through service from San Diego to Santa Barbara.

While both of these are true, I don't think either are the direct reason for the current Surfline situation. Cab-cars fulfill what Steve does (unless they're broken), and Surfliners (and most corridor trains) only run with two engines if one breaks down.