The total amount of cargo, measured in tons or car count, that a single train is assigned to pull. Dispatchers and motive power planners calculate this figure to determine exactly how many locomotives are needed to conquer the ruling grades on a specific route. Exceeding the optimal tonnage for a given power lash-up leads to stalled trains and broken knuckles.
Heard on the job
We're pulling a heavy trainload of grain out of the elevator, so make sure we've three units online before we hit the hill.
Insider tip
When a dispatcher asks for your tonnage, they are checking your trainload against the known pulling capacity of your assigned locomotives.
Also heard as
- tonnage