We Can Handle It. Wrote:
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> Not Rocket science, but I thought there is a Pilot
> on every territory 4014 goes, telling Ed what to
> do on a briefing and on the road, then the Pilot
> would tell Ed what to tell the pusher engineer?

The pilot advises the lead engineer on the physical characteristics of portion of the railroad they'll be operating on, including such things as speed limits, permanent and temporary restrictions, track gradient and curvature, fixed and temporary signal locations, etc., but doesn't tell the engineer "what to do" in the literal sense, given that the engineer is the person responsible for operating the train. Without a steam-to-diesel m.u. box, the lead engineer then communicates with the helper engineer as to what he wants him or her to do.

Here's the FRA requirement for when a pilot is necessary:

[www.law.cornell.edu]