Head end power car

A head end power car (also called a generator car) is a rail car that supplies head end power (HEP). Since most modern locomotives supply HEP they are mostly used by heritage railways that use older locomotives, or by railroad museums that take their equipment on excursions.[1] Quite a few head end power cars started out as other forms of rolling stock that have been rebuilt with diesel generators and fuel tanks to supply HEP to the passenger equipment.[2][3]

Combined luggage and electric power carriage.
A China Railway KD25K generator car at Beijing railway station.

Even if diesel powered carriages are more common, electric ones also exist and are used to provide power to trains when hauled by locos without HEP, or when not attached to a locomotive.

See also

References
  1. "Nevada Southern Railway's website describing their head end power car".
  2. "Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's description of their car's history and conversion". Archived from the original on 2012-10-02.
  3. "Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum's equipment roster with a brief description of their HEP car".
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