#i have physically been on an emd f-unit (mini greaseball) and cf-7 (roadswitcherfied rebuild) and totally understoof why they did that LOL

[buff-electra-truther]

I think canon criminally underuses the fact that Greaseball’s replica basis (midcentury carbody locos) are almost incapable of going backwards due to lack of visibility and most of the Nationals aren’t any better since most of them would have another power car on the end of the train irl. Any kind of switcher would clean house in a backwards race against that field and it’s a convenient way to have Rusty win legitimately.