Dual control stand refers to the North American practice of some railroads to have two control stands (a "control stand" is a locomotive subsystem which integrates all engine and brake functional controls within the operational radius of the locomotive engineer's left forearm from his customary seating position, facing forward at all times) in the cab of a hood unit locomotive, one on either side facing opposite directions to allow operation either long hood or short hood forward at all times). This practice was largely used by the Norfolk and Western, as well as Southern Railway, during the 1960s and 1970s, but could also be found on select Erie Lackawanna, Reading, Penn Central and Western Pacific locomotives during the same time period
The rationale for having two control stands was to put the engineer on the proper side of the locomotive regardless of the direction of travel; this would reduce the need to turn the locomotive at a terminal.
Present railroad practice is to operate two or more locomotives in "multiple unit" configurations, with the "front" locomotive pointing "front", and with the rear-most, or all rear locomotives facing "rear". This practice eliminates "turning of equipment".