Just a factoid to toss in with the description. Since the Tennessee Pass line is "rail banked," i.e. out of service but not abandoned, that is still the highest point on the Rio Grande at 10,221 ft. Good catch on the SD90MAC. Guess they're getting rarer and rarer!
On the English side of the Atlantic, rear end helpers are known as "bankers". Although there are still some steeply graded routes, the only place to find banking engines is on the approximately 3.7% Lickey Incline south west of Birmingham.
You realize the leader is a EMD SD90MAC. I love the first 3 units, two SP's, NICE!
Just a factoid to toss in with the description. Since the Tennessee Pass line is "rail banked," i.e. out of service but not abandoned, that is still the highest point on the Rio Grande at 10,221 ft. Good catch on the SD90MAC. Guess they're getting rarer and rarer!
On the English side of the Atlantic, rear end helpers are known as "bankers". Although there are still some steeply graded routes, the only place to find banking engines is on the approximately 3.7% Lickey Incline south west of Birmingham.
that is so true. sometimes union pacific has 4-6 helpers on the coal trains.
I miss the D&RGW but one great thing about UP (and SP, after D&RGW) is that GE's are now heavily used on this line.
Quite a collection of hoppers....old MoPac, C&NW, D&RGW, even BN....wonder why the BN hoppers since BN is not part of UP.
those ex BN hoppers have CTRN reporting marks on them. I see several trains with these mixed MP/UP/ex BN cars go thru where I live
it almost looks like that UP is using an old D&RGW practice, running swing helpers and a rear end pusher