perämetreinä

Perämetreinä is a Finnish term that translates roughly to "rear trains" or "trailing trains." It refers to the practice of running multiple train sets or carriages coupled together in a configuration where the locomotive or driving power is located at the rear of the formation, pulling the rest of the train. This contrasts with the more common arrangement where the locomotive is at the front, pushing or pulling the carriages from ahead.

Historically, perämetreinä configurations were employed for various reasons. In some cases, it allowed for greater flexibility in shunting operations or when reversing direction was required frequently. It could also be a practical solution for utilizing locomotives that were designed for pushing or for specific operational needs on certain lines. The term is not widely used in modern railway terminology, as most contemporary trainsets and locomotives are designed for front-end operation. However, it may still be encountered in discussions of historical railway practices or in specific niche applications. The concept itself highlights the diverse engineering solutions developed to meet the demands of railway transportation throughout history.