What unusual helper sets have you seen in action. I saw a warbonnet B40-8W in helper service over Cajon Pass. I have also seen video of 3 SSW GP60s in helper service over donner pass and a picture of a early Conrail helpers set of GP35/B23-7/GP38 on Bennington Curve.
UP used TR5 cow-calf sets as helpers over Cajon Pass. PRR used paired Centipedes over the Allegheny Summit, including Horseshoe Curve.
I have seen pics of the centipedes. All those wheels would make sense for helpers. The cow-calf set is more what I was thinking of as unusual.
I’m not sure if it’s weird, but my grandfather had a picture of Alco RSD15s being used on Penn Central, that would have been really cool to see.
Weirdest I’ve ever seen would probably be two GP38-2s and an SD50 (the latter makes sense!) on Conrail. I’ve heard that Canadian Pacific used FM Trainmasters until the 1970s, anyone know anything about that?
Cheers!
~METRO
Don’t know if it was that strange, since it was a fairly common occurrence - NYC hudson-powered passenger trains (80" drivers) would often require a push up the West Albany Hill, which was one of the steepest grades on the “Water Level Route.” The usual pusher was an 0-8-0 (52" drivers.)
Chuck (former NYC fan)