I picked up another book (feature that) “Burlington Northern and it’s Heritage”, by Steve Glischinski.
The book says that eastbound coal trains on th e BN(SF) still require helpers to get over Crawford Hill in Nebraska. What’s more,they require helpers on the Orin line in the Powder River Basin,from Donkey Creek south about 8 miles. I thought helpers were pretty much a thing of the past,except in the high elevations of the Rockies. Where else are helper engines still in common use?
Helpers are still in regular use on NS between Altoona, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. (and as far West as Pittsburgh on the former Pennsy Main which also includes Horseshoe Curve. SD40-2 helper sets are added to Westbounds in Altoona, and these usually cut off at the top of the Grade near Cresson, or anywhere between there and Pitsburgh, depending on tonnage, and traffic. Helpers are usually added to the rear, but on heavier trains, 2 pair can be added, either both pair to the rear, or one set ahead of the road power, or both sets on the rear. CSX on Sand Patch Grade between Cumberland MD and Connellsville, Pa still use manned helpers too, usually CSX SD50’s.
I believe there are helpers in use in the Techachapi Mountains between Bakersfield and Summit Switch.
I did enjoy seeing the helpers get cut in at Bakersfield and cut out at Sylmar (Los Angeles area) back in the day when Southern Pacific was still around,
A couple places in California require helpers. At Cuesta (between Santa Margarita and San Luis Obispo) helpers are needed for the “loaded oil cans” at 10,608 tons and 2.2% grades. Another is in Cajon Pass with some of the loaded coal trains that Union Pacific runs.
I am not sure, but I think manned helpers over Tehachapi are gone. The long/heavy trains that run over Tehachapi (usually MRVWC and MWCRV) usually have DPU all the way from Roseville to West Colton and vice versa. The last few times I have been at the yard at Bakersfield there were very few locomotives there. The engine terminal has been shut down. I have even been seeing more BNSF trains come through the valley with DPU.
The last I heard there were still manned helpers over Cuesta though.
I don’t think we have any left in Canada since CN took over BC Rail and the Pemberton Pushers were removed.
How do you remove pushers from a hill? Bigger locomotives? Smaller trains?
Cajon Pass, these units were working on the hill two weeks ago
And these were working a month or so ago
Beaumont hill, these were working at W Palm Springs in June
They are used on Donner when there is a lot of traffic, like when the Feather River route is out of service (Jim could probably tell you more about that)
And I think there is a helper in Dunsmuir too but I’m not 100% on that
- Reroute traffic.
Most of BC Rail’s traffic was forrestry products heading to eastern Canada or the USA which BC Rail interchanged with CN in North Vancouver. CN now runs most of this traffic north to another former interchange at Prince George which avoids the 2.2% grades. At Pemberton there were 4 SD40-2s in this service.
CP Rail at Rogers Pass had 2 sets of 6 SD40-2s at Rogers but I only got in 2 visits before the new tunnel opened.
The Pocatello sub in Idaho has manned helpers on Reverse hill out of Glenns Ferry…called from the Xtra board…
I saw photo in Trains showing helper set at Oakridge on UP (ex SP) working Oakridge to Crescent Lake. This was DPU. They probably figured out DPU was more expensive than manned helpers.
Dunsmuir would be the base for the Northbound help on this line.
Mac
I spent almost a year in Dorris (just below K-Falls) in 03’ and during that time I never saw DPU units. So if they were using DPU they must have been pulling them off in Klamath. And I saw manned helpers being cut out at Grass Lake (summit) so they were still using manned helpers at that time. That could have changed though.
Donner Pass on Union Pacific’s “Overland Route” is still a helper district. Although they have done a number of things to cut out manned helpers on the sub. First, they have in the past year or so reduced tonnage of some trains using this line. Next, at Roseville power is added to the head end of eastbound trains for the trip over Donner, added power is cut off at Sparks. Likewise westbound trains get additional head end power, which is cut off at Roseville.
Recently in the last couple of months heavy trains such as the MNPFR, MFRNP, MRVGR, MGRRV, QFRNP and QNPFR have been generally rerouted off of Donner to the Feather River Canyon.
For train handling on those trains using Donner that require helpers on the rear, they are receiving DPUs. Normally one unit on the head end and one or two units on the rear for the push between Roseville and Sparks - Sparks and Roseville. I haven’t seen mid train helpers on this route for 5 or 6 years.
When conditions warrant, such as derailments and work windows in the Feather River Canyon, or regional and/or temporary power shortages, manned helpers are brought out and used on Donner, the Roseville Subdivision, on some trains.
Subjectively it is my observation that the Espee was much better at managing the Roseville Sub than the Union Pacific has done to date. Last winters’ storms are a case in point.
Jim
Manned helpers running light back to Roseville, pictured at Shed 47 on the Roseville Sub - 24 September 2005.
Jim, I know it’s a little out of your territory, but do you know if they are using helpers on Montello hill?
I don’t know, but I know who to ask, and will pose the question.
Jim
JD? he lives out that way (but I don’t know him)
I don’t believe there have been helpers on Montello hill since before the UP/SP merger.
As for helpers out of Oakridge I read that as the DPU wasn’t working due to the tunnels.
No, don’t think Jeff would know. A hogger I know out there will have the answer.
Is your dad a TO member? I noticed on a TO subscrbtion map that there is a TO member in Alturas.
Jim
Yes Jim, He goes under the name of Modocer I think, at least thats what he uses on Altimont Presses forum. He rarely posts anything though, just reads mostly. I just sent him a e-mail to see if there are any new developments on the Modoc. Last week I talked to him on the phone and he said as we speak the Alturas turn was dropping of one of the Modoc Northern’s units in the alturas yard. So I was trying to find out if he had seen it yet or had any pix to share. I expect him to return my e-mail tonight or tommarrow. I’ll let you know if I hear anything. We have been discussing where to go on our next trip. We were going to go check out the Frasier & Thompson river canyons up in BC, But I think we are going to run out to Nebraska this time and do BC later. The only question is when can we both get a week off at the same time.
Lately I have been seeing a lot of BNSF stack trains coming down UP’s Haggin route. When they pass through the Sacramento area they still have two helpers in the back on the westbounders. Where would those units have originated from? I am assuming they are going down to Stockton.
I am seeing about 2-3 BNSF stack trains a day through Davis. They usually have 4 lead units on the eastbounders versus UPs 2 units on theirs. I am assuming both are loaded, but the BNSF has to takle the Feather River Canyon. Anyone have any information on expanded trackage rights fro BNSF on UPs line?
Dave