Not the first time. Such practices were around for quite some time.
For recent examples, at least a few years ago, SCR used to attached dead D-locos for trains coming from KZJ side and heading towards NED. The D-loco would be attached at the rear of the train and when the train reversed at SC, the E-loco would be detached from one end and the D-loco would takeover.
A similar arrangement is used for 12805/06 Janmabhoomi express in between BZA-GNT in SCR.