What is it? (MU with jumper cable)

Does anyone know what the hose type thingy on the front of the 573 is for?
Take a look
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?20050 ... 3&BOOL=ANY

It's an MU cable - for multiple unit operation.

I thought that the MU hoses were next to the brake hose and the coupler?

MU Cable: carries 'lectricity (low voltage control power).

MU Hose: carries air.

Ya need both to MU.

Thank you very much for clearing this up for me!

CSRR573 wrote:I thought that the MU hoses were next to the brake hose and the coupler?

The three air hoses, from the outside in:

Independent Application and Release (IAR)
Actuating (ACT)
Main Reservoir (MR)

As the man said, all these must be connected to MU locomotives. The BNSF requires these three hoses be coupled on both sides from, IIRC, November thru March.