Shove

A shove is a railroad move in which a locomotive pushes cars (or other locomotives) rather than pulling them. The locomotive is at the rear of the movement and the cars are out ahead of it, traveling in the direction the cars are facing.

Why It Matters

Shoving is a routine part of switching and yard work - cars are constantly pushed onto and off of tracks - but it carries particular hazards because the crew member at the controls cannot see directly along the leading end of the movement. For this reason a shove is normally protected by a crew member positioned to observe the leading end and the track ahead, who communicates the distance remaining and instructs the engineer to stop before fouling another track or reaching the end of clear track.

Slack and Buff Forces

When a locomotive shoves, it pushes the slack between cars together, so the cars are in compression. This compressive condition is described as a buff load, the opposite of the tension, or draft, seen when a locomotive pulls. Managing slack carefully during a shove helps avoid sharp run-ins that can damage cars or lading and helps keep the movement under control.