two locomotives on a train

[Toenails10]

any benefit?
does it pull loads easier and therefore is faster?

[Mr Felidae]

Combined power rating and traction benefit acceleration. It reaches top speed faster, but will still be restricted to the top speed of the 'slowest' wagon on the consist.

[Norfolk_Chris]

Having two locos on a train only increases it's pulling power. It will accelerate faster and be able to pull double the load, but it will not increase the maximum speed.

[Autocoach]

I would say that you decide what a particular loco is capable of carrying in terms of weight giving acceptable acceleration performance and if you need more capacity than this and like the look of double heading then go ahead - yes they just add together for all performance stats . Although payout top speed will be unchanged if you are going up a gradient it is possible for the max actual speed to be increased particularly with early or weak locos.

See the dramatic performance improvement here . Don't forget wagons are expensive so if you can keep them on the move they generate more revenue .

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198036937504/screenshot/946213187572717346

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198036937504/screenshot/946213187572734205

[gGeorg]

Double head benefits are pleasant to watch. Only.
That is all.

Two locomotive means yo could rather make two trains to get shorter freq. to get better line efficinecy.
Also, ratio weight to power is significant. Two weak loco are always worse than one of the same power. Becose of weight ratio.

Your optimal loco is
1. same speed or faster speed than wagons
2. Power of loco need to be such, a result rating is Mediocre, close to Poor. In case of cargo trains Poor rating is the best. Finance wise.

[cszolee79]

I have a 4x cargo weight mod to make game realistic and some 40-50+ wagon trains need 4-6 locos to pull them up a slope (SD70MAC / AC4400CW or similar).
Using fewer but bigger trains is always better than more but smaller trains (time spent accelerating/slowing, load/unload). So two 20-wagon trains with double locos is more efficient than 4x 10-wagon trains with single locos.
I always try to aim at least "mediocre" for freight and "good" or better for passenger trains.

Ah and the income (ticket price / km) depends on the max speed of the train so if you have 125mph wagons try to use a 125mph loco. Putting a 50mph loco on a 125mph wagon gives you less than half the ticket price.