What a cool video. Never saw helpers being added before. I grew up in Tennessee where we didn't see a lot of helpers even on our big coal trains but out West with the mountains it's sure a lot different. The longest train I ever remember seeing was in Wyoming. A train full of tanker cars with a ton of locomotives, 4-4-4. It was not going very slow at all seemed to take an hour to pass. I was in heaven with all of those prime movers notched up, screaming, pushing that train. Thank you for the video! Edit: I assume this is a short trip over the hump and they'll pull them off again?
That sounds like it was a very cool train to watch! Yes, they use the helper locomotives until they reach an area known as Soldier Sumit, and then remove them there, and the helpers return back to Helper. The ruling grade on Soldier Sumit is around 2-2.5%.
4 Mid-train helpers is a ton of power, but then Soldier summit is a heck of a hill *(for mainline ops). AFAIK Helper is one of the few places where trains still add manned power. Been that way since D&RGW built the line in the 1880s. (They actually had a town at Soldier Summit for a while before building what became Thistle)
Soldier Sumit has a ruling grade of 2-2.5% indeed. The process of getting coal over it hasn't changed much since then. Other than the technology, such diesel over steam and EOTD's/FRED's instead of caboose's.
Absolutely awesome...it's one thing to watch video's of trains passing with dpu's scattered about but this is the first time I've seen them actually being added! This was quite the catch!
Im in and out of the BNSF yard down here in here Commerce, CA. Always cool watching them take off and the unloading/loading process of trailers. Nice video!
We saw mid helpers all the time on BNSF when trains passed through Texas Panhandle coming from the coal mines up north. We are now in Arkansas and see only front and rear loco’s on the UP coal trains headed south from Kansas City.
on June 20, 2021, I was in Helper -the maneuver you showed us in this video was already completed -but I remember the roaring sound of the helper locos when the train started moving -if you are in Helper, I recommend visiting the Western Mining and Railroad Museum, very very interesting
Weeell...looky who it is! I was actually thinking about you when I was watching this one, Richard. It reminded me of your vids, only with big road power and many more cars. After seeing this, now I want to go back to Helper again!!! 🤠🤙
@@jamesedwards9857 Mate.., here in NZ🇳🇿.., they used to be called “Bankers”…., they would help the train up the bank… As a young fireman.., our Dad RIP.., drove the Ja, K & Ka steamers.., then later years the Diesels.. including the GE U26C in the “banker” role…, up the Raurimu Spiral.. 1:33 grade… As a youngster… absolutely loved the cab rides on “my” locomotives 😂👍
@@jamesedwards9857Google translator did well. I’m originally from state of Minas Gerais living in Miami. Great video. Big fan of GE sounds. Hope one day visit Utah.
Your welcome! This was filmed at the Amtrak station/UP yard office in Helper Utah. However, I'm not entirely certain on the exact models of each of those locomotives, other than the fact that they are all manufactured by GE/Wabtec. You can look up the locomotive numbers, and you should be able to find out the exact details of each of them.
The front locomotives have the main engineer(driver) and conductor. The middle helper set also has an engineer and conductor, and the rear locomotive is remote controlled, aka DPU from the lead locomotives.
Helpers are manned units and distributed power units (DPU's) are unmanned, remote controled. Things like this usually just help them over the hump and then go back to town and then repeat. Kinda like a tug boat for trains. They help them out of the harbor
Yes, the mid train helpers are manned, so they can be returned back to Helper. The locomotive on the rear is a DPU controlled by the front locomotives.
Awesome catch of a Coltrane in helper Utah do you live in helper are you a local r a i l fan if you are I live in Castle Dale I am also a fellow r a i l fan and railroad artist do you want to talk trains one day shoot me a comment peace out man have a great day
