Here one of three helper sets is shoving another coal train just before entering the Lower Horseshoe while the head end has already rounded the Upper Horseshoe on Windy Point. Same set rounding Windy Point.
We stayed at the ranch. You are right it is nice. It is nice being so claose to all the action! You are lucky! I have always wanted to see the fuel tenders in the helper sets. Been there twice and they were not using them either time. Guess I will have to go back!
The track spacing is wider in the curves so wide loads can pass by each other and not collide. When Crawford Hill was single track, there was a station and siding just below these curves. When the hill was double tracked, they did not re-align the siding and kept the same track centers on the lower part of the hill. On the upper portion the track centers were wider to accomodate wide loads and track maintenance.
I've seen pushers either manned or DPU on certain trains on the Gallup Sub- coalies, grainers, stack trains (usually eastbound, and the longer ones) and trains such as what I found below, 1 mile east of the summit at Continental Divide (elev. 7253 ft.): This train was all covered hoppers- not sure, but I think it was a potash train. Note the Helm leaser at the end of the helper set.
Friscobob, Nice shot of the Helm leasing unit in helper service. Kinda unusual. Campp, We don't see many helpers or DPU's in CO or WY on intermodal. Looks a little strange. Growing up around the railroad I guess I have the false notion still that intermodal is high speed, high priority, fairly light trains. Times have changed!
MRL When did you get that shot? I have always wanted to be up there when they are using fuel tenders. Belmont is a great place. One of my favorite!
This has got to be one of the weirdest switching moves I have ever seen. These units are push, pulling two cuts of cars. Keep in mind they are shoving against the grade outside of Mojave. This crew is making up the West Flyer. Thom
Cliff siding, Tehachapi, 7/95, a Santa Fe light helper set drifting down the grade passing a mid train SP helper in the siding:
On a very rainy, dreary Sunday last week, the Essex helper set is shoving hard on a manifest at Java East on Marias Pass, just about 25 miles west of Summit:
I managed to catch a train up the hill in Ashtabula and it didn't have a pusher, for a change! But, the two units were going a constant 10 MPH in run 8! It actually interchanged from CSX onto NS to go south down to Youngstown. The line hauls coal and iron ore to and from Ashtabula harbor. Sattelite view, follow this line south up the hill to Carson yard!
Even passenger trains get shoved around.......witness this consist making up a Downeaster awaiting its departure from Portland, ME bound for Boston, MA on former B&M trackage. This train has two P42s, one on each end, but usually a F40 "cabbage" unit is one one end with a P42 on the other. Another Amtraker that operates like this is the Heartland Flyer between Ft. Worth and OKC. Yes, I know, it's called push-pull, but it's the closest to the passenger equivalent of a train being shoved.
