Not that I know of....
So it's best to start your activity with the diesel loco on the front of the train. At least the AI won't de-activate it, so if the diesel locomotive is not in front after you change direction.... It's still running.
Only with the VT98; the couplers of those have been configured to relay diesel engine status, so the diesel engine of the motorcar can be started from the non-motor driver car. However.... From a VT98 you can not order pantographs to be raised on coupled other trains.