12-24-2009, 02:14 PM
I think it is primarily in places like the car float operations in Vancouver, B.C. where the barges are loaded out to ship freight up to Alaska where they don't let switchers on the apron. At least every pic I've seen of the loading process up there showed them using a bunch of empty flats as a handle between the locomotive and the cars. Of course, I don't remember seeing what locomotives they were using to switch out the barges up there. They may have been using some of the more modern super power rather than small switchers.