Good evening everyone. Long time lurker and former old forum member. Back in the 80’s during my chilhood and teen years I recall NS running mid train helpers through Atlanta’s east/west line. The mid train helpers were controled by NS’s remote boxcars. I never see any engines anymore midtrain. When and why did this pracice stop?
I believe NS stopped using the mid-train remote helpers in the mid nineties. This technology gave way to the current DPU remote control used by the Powder River trains that serve Plant Scherer north of Macon, GA. The fact that they now have more powerful locomotives with better adhesion ratings probably helped in killing mid-train remotes. (I still remember seeing these things coming through with ground-vibrating SOU SD45s’ in the consist.)
anb740
NS uses a mid-train helper on 172 (New Orleans, LA to Linwood, N.C.). They have a small fleet of -9’s mostly in the (9200’s) with the DPU software. There was an artical in a issue of “TRAINS” either in '06 or early '07 not quiet sure. 172 is the only train I know of that uses a helper in the area.
Late last year I did a LOT (probably too much!) of train hunting on the NS line between Atlanta and Greenville, SC, and I would agree completely with this statement. I have never seen 172 without a mid train helper, and have never seen helpers on any other trains northbound or southbound on this stretch of track. The additional unit is used to help the train cope with the northbound grade coming up out of the Tugaloo River valley on the GA/SC border. Here are two videos I have of 172 with a Dash-9 midtrain helper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy5TjyYSdk8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8MnvpcMWF8
Jamie
Didn’t think about that but that does make sense in regards to better adhesion technology. I remember almost every train that came through austell would have the remote boxcar and 1 or 2 locomotives in the middle. Ahh the good ole days.
The slaves and the cracker boxes. im one of the last guys on my division to run these and the only reason they quit was maintanace cost for up keep way to high and with new engines comming out so they didnt haft to keep engines set up with the extra controls and the cracker boxes. just less stuff to have. the last engines i know to be fitted with the stand was a few sd60s most all of the old sd40 3200 series was set up but almost all of the equipment is gone now.
Not to sway away from NS, but Santa Fe was a user of mid train remotes which had a interesting history to it. A bad recession hit the industry in 1982, surplus engs became available and remote RCE units were obtained on the Middle Div for unit grain service just before the KS wheat harvest. These were 120 cars long w/3 engs on the lead, 2 remotes spliced 90 cars back. The first RCE train to be tested originated @ North Wichita. Grain trains from Hutchinson, Kan City, Newton or Wichita ran RCE if enough cars were on hand to run it in that mode. This procedure lasted until around 1990 or so. Some of the mid train former SF units still survive in BNSF service. Mostly the SD 40-2’s which have the extended noses that housed the radio transmitter equip.