The complete list of equipment making up a train, including locomotives and each railcar in order, with car numbers, commodities, weights, and destinations. A consist document (also called a train list) travels with the train and is transmitted electronically ahead of arrival. Consists are essential for safety planning and crew briefings.
The process of grouping railcars destined for the same or nearby destinations together within a train so they can be set out as a single cut without additional classification. A blocking plan defines how a railroad arranges cars to minimize intermediate switching. Effective blocking reduces terminal dwell and improves network efficiency.
A train carrying a mixed assortment of carload freight bound for multiple destinations, as opposed to a unit train. Manifest trains typically undergo classification at intermediate yards to set out and pick up cars. They are the backbone of the carload business and handle the broadest variety of commodities.
An internal railroad document derived from the bill of lading that travels with or ahead of a car and contains all information needed to route, classify, and deliver the shipment. The waybill is the operational document used by railroad employees to handle a car through the system. It may be electronic in modern railroad IT systems.
One or more locomotives placed mid-train or at the rear of a train and controlled remotely from the lead unit to provide additional tractive effort and improve brake handling on long or heavy trains. DPUs reduce in-train forces (slack action) and allow railroads to run longer trains than would otherwise be practical. They are standard on heavy-haul coal and grain unit trains.