EVESPO leaving Everett, WA, 7-11-2014

It's a nice, sunny summer day and I'm trackside in Everett, WA - about 30 miles north of Seattle.
I'm just outside Delta Yard and the EVESPO (Everett to Spokane) manifest freight has just left the yard. She's starting to pickup speed as she heads out on the main for her journey to Spokane.
The lead engine is BNSF 7267 (ES44DC) with a Union Pacific interloper behind.
The train features DPU locos in the middle of the train, something I haven't seen before. Typically, you'd see the DPU's on the rear of the train only.
The gondolas with the white steel covers are marked with HazMat code 3077 "Environmentally hazardous substances, solid". The covers are there to keep whatever is inside from escaping into the atmosphere.
7267 / UP 5106 / 5430 / 6794 / 5345 / 4593
ES44DC / SD70M / C44-9W / ES44C4 / C44-9W / C44-9W

[@1tombensky]

Appreciate the explanation for the covered gons. Keep up the great videos!

[@FishplateFilms]

Great catch Sir!
Cheers Gregg

[@MikeSnow9]

Thanks Todd...

[@MrLuebeck]

Mid DPUs are actually pretty common on some southbound CN manifest trains out of Winnipeg going towards Chicago.

[@MakeItSo-ThisIsME]

Awesome vid, I've never seen a DPU in 'mid point' here in the Seattle area either, great catch! I wonder if the there in the middle because the train is breaking into two at some point?

[@SeattleRailFan]

Well, the general reason railroads use DPUs is they reduce stress on the couplers (less chance of breaking one) and I believe they also reduce fuel consumption compared to having all the locos at the head of the train.
The Stevens Pass route is fairly steep, with some parts at a 2.2% grade. That's pretty steep for trains. I'm guessing that the mid-train DPUs are used here to lessen the change of coupler breakage.
For those unfamiliar with the terminology, DPU stands for Distributed Power Unit and are the locos in the middle or reart of the train. The DPUs are radio controlled from the lead loco. Google "Distributed Power Unit" for more info.
A "2.2% grade" means 2.2 feet of rise per 100 feet of track. Generally 1-1.5% is considered steep. 2.2% is close to the maximum a Class 1 railroad will want on a mainline track. Steep grades cost money to climb!

[@mafarnz]

Is this train routed over Stevens pass?

[@SeattleRailFan]

Yes. It's traveling southbound past my location south of Delta Yard. Just south me of the tracks turn eastward towards the pass.

[@lucaslawless4291]

what day was this filmed?

[@SeattleRailFan]

July 11th

[@lucaslawless4291]

I thought so! I saw this train up in Skykomish that day. the UP engine surprised me, but then Mid Train DPUs surprised me even more!