Two for one in this application is almost misleading in practice. When out of town trainmen are at the away terminal, then two of them will be run back home before a home terminal conductor. Likewise, at the other end, it's the same. (Two Richmond conductors will run ahead of Fresno conductors at Fresno, and the opposite will be true at Richmond), but I have never heard a good reason why this in place. It has something to do with the Rivebank Run Through agreement from the 1970's, and something about traffic patterns. Richmond, is of course the end of the line...for whatever that's worth.

Why is it misleading in its intent? I have no answer except that if you ponder the whole process, it would make more sense to run 1:1 ratio...so why 2:1?

By the way, deadheads don't count. You could run several deadheads back home in a row and not violate the 2:1 ratio! Which means, you could think you're going to work at 17:00 and suddenly be called at 08:00.

Richmond Conductors can deadhead out of town to the away terminal, but Fresno cannot. It is also not necessary to be rested to deadhead, further complicating your projected on-duty time.