Railroad History: Helpers on the Tehachapi Pass
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- Опубліковано 6 лип 2024
- As trains became more popular they became longer which means they became heavier and that meant more power was needed to pull them. One of the solutions to the problem was running trains in separate "sections" or making two or three trains from one. That wasn't always practical due to scheduling conflicts, etc.
The better answer was to add locomotives to trains and these were called "helpers". In the early days more power was added only to the head end but that only worked to a point as broken draw bars would result so helpers were added to the train at various intervals. As heavy mountain service became the norm they began putting more helpers in trains including the rear.
As diesel power became available the helpers began to be set about the middle of the train but more would be added deeper if called for.
Today most helpers are placed at the end of a train and are all remote control units called drones. Very heavy trains will still incorporate them in the middle if necessary.
So join me me for a history of helper service on the Tehachapi.
Link to a VERY heavy train at West Bealville • Railroading on the Teh...
You’re the “Shell” Answer Man of the Railroad. Your Knowledge is Off the Charts, Great. Thanks!👍
Nice bit of history. My Father-in-law who worked the B&O from Cumberland,Md To Grafton,WV said if no helpers were available for a Coal drag from Grafton they would cut the train in half, take half the train to the top and go back down and get the other half.
I'm looking for books on the B&O for my next information fix!
Thanks for checking it out!
Fantastic bit of history 👍.
Mark: It was the company I worked for in about 1975 that developed regenerative braking for the drilling industry and the idea was later sold to the railroad industry.
Hi Mark, Thank You for another great video. The picture you show of them cutting off Helpers at Summit in 1973 shows an EMD SD7 #2704, a rarity on the Hill compared to the SD9 which was a mainstay on Tehachapi. Thanks again for the video Mark and keep em coming!
Thank you. Much more to come!
Another great video Mark. I was told UP maybe bring helpers back to the loop out of Bakersfield. This would eliminate DP units going all the way to Colton.
I've heard the same thing but haven't seen it happening yet.
If it starts up I'll do a video of it!
Thanks for checking it out!
Thanks Mark!
Some great history on how mountain railroading works. Looking forward to the segment on the “run away” at Tehachapi!
I'm hoping to get that one shot next week!
Very interesting
Hi Mark, enjoy your video's. I live in Maine. The RR in this area was Boston and Maine RR. They went thru Bankruptcy in the 70s and now they are PanAm Railways. I was working near the Rail tracks about 20 years ago. .Am Track was going to run from Boston to Portland Me. They took up all the rails and welded them together and made each rail section about 1600 feet long. I think it was done for safety. They still have wooden ties. How do they handle expansion and contraction of the rails. Some times you can hear the tracks moving when the sun comes up.
Rail welding is done at what is called "neutral temperature" which varies with weather and location. It's done to account for longitudinal stresses to avoid contracting to the breaking point or expanding and causing "sun kinks" in areas of weak ballast. It's a delicate balancing act.
Wooden ties absorb these stresses well.
Thanks for checking it out!
Hi Mark. Been loving your series of videos since I stumbled on them about 10 days ago. You are quite knowledgeable about the railroad and appear to have unparalleled access to the property as a result of your previous employment. If I may offer one small correction to this particular video, DPU stands for "Distributed Power Unit". "Drone Pusher Units" might be a colloquial term on this part of the UP.
I got to Tehachapi in the late 80s, early 90's and got to see the Bena helper siding in action. Loved those Tunnel motors that ruled the roost in those days. At the time I was there, they were cutting out the helpers across from the Best Western Mountain Inn hotel in Tehachapi, where I spent the night.
Yeah, I was corrected on the DPU by an old friend who is a conductor. He suggested that not knowing this after 40 years, I should join "Dumb People United!" I just call them all helpers now.
I love them Tehachapi Mts>...Was just there Nov.22'..Last time was Dec 2000
In 1957 my father in law lived in a box car near there and work for the rail road. His name is Garland Sparks.
Great video! Very interesting!
Good Stuff MCM !!
Bena was one of my spots to watch, sometimes i got lucky and there will a set of helpers waiting to cut in. So i would sit in my truck and wait for the train to show up, fun times!
It sure stayed busy there!
THANK YOU!
My pleasure...More to come!
Trains coming thru Saugus have helpers in the rear of the train probably for the climb up Soledad Canyon then Tehachapi.
In West Sacramento, Ca, the Union Pacific Tracks run from the Yard to the Port along Jefferson Blvd. It is not unusual to see unmanned Drone engines running between the yard and port.
Another great video Mark! Really appreciate all the history of my favourite pass in the US. Spent a few hours at the Depot there, and had a feed at the German bakery..is it still there? Thanks for the lesson.
Cheers Gregg.
Thank you. I'm pleased to share this stuff with you. Yes. The bakery is still there.
Thanks for checking it out!
How do they determine when to use wood or concrete ties or do they use concrete when replacing ties?
Better than riding Amtrak --great vidio but I have to say you got more b---- then i got--really enjoyed it----thankyou
Balls? Naw. I'm just well liked!
@@MarkClayMcGowan Respected and liked!!! Great video Mark!
Mark, someone told me that Magunden and Quantico were places that they added on helpers?? This video is one of your best. Thank you for posting.
It's unlikely Quantico was used for that as it was where the switches for the east end of the yard were. I've not seen anything about using Magunden.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome video mark! By any chance you wouldn’t have a map of all the subdivisions in California? That would be interesting to see!
No. I only have timetables for the Fresno and Mojave subs.
Mark excellent video just a heads up in case you or anyone else is interested for that matter at about 12 1/2 minute mark at Summit facing east those metal buildings to your left one of them is called vintage V-12s they overhaul vintage aircraft engines of World War II including Radial engines if you’re lucky they might be test running one of their engines on their test cell I think you would enjoy the sound of those engines I believe you are a gearhead as well anyways I hope you and your family stay safe as well as anyone else who reached this message and enjoy your retirement you and I are about the same age
One of the items on my list is to get a tour of that place. Hopefully all this madness will end soon and I can start knocking on doors again!
Vintage V-12s is owned by Jose Flores Vintage Radials is owner by Mike Nixon
Where the helper(s) are cut in the train consist way back in the days of train orders was likely due to the lead engine being the one that would run all the way over the district. Some oldtimer dispatcher may be able to comment.
They began putting helpers on the point on the Tehachapi after the wreck of 1883.
I have a video about the history of that wreck on the channel
In the Northeast on CSX I believe the helpers or drones are called DP units DP=distributed power
I was just schooled about that! They're called that here as well. As I told her, this is what happens when you leave a signal guy in charge!
Thanks for the heads up and for checking it out!
I remember when the UP used to cut helpers in on Beaumont grade in riverside county. Usually it was 2 SP Sd40s up until about 05-06.
I plan on doing some Beaumont stuff in the future. Stay tuned!
That would be the Colton to Yuma run which was my favorite. 197 miles and with a hot train it could be done in 4-5 hours.
Did both Espee and AT&SF share the same helper stations?
Yes they did. I know that they sometimes used the plant spur at Bena as well if the helper spur was full.
Thanks for checking it out!
hey mark,what was your start date&did you have a like 30 day probation?
My date was 5/7/79. Probation was 90 days. I think it still is!
1:57 are those signals displaying a lunar or approach? Are there trains in the block right there if so?
Approach. UP doesn't use lunar. At least not around here. Flashing red is their "into occupied or non signaled track. These are automatic and the next signals are the CP at Bena which are not cleared. I have two videos on here about what the signals mean (around here). I think you'd enjoy them!
Mark Clay McGowan thanks!
I think UP uses lunar in ABS territory. Probably not much of that left now.
Hey Mark, I don't know what the hell it is about that area, especially Tehachapi!!! Maybe it's all of the stories I read about it when I was little???? I would think that having a winter home there would be the cats pajamas!!!!! I would love to hear a story about the big earthquake that really messed the place up????
Wow! I just saw this comment on the day I posted the quake video! I hope you enjoy it.
I grew up in Tehachapi and moved away in 1993. It's not the cool little town I grew up in. I miss the climate up there but thats about it.
Wow! I just saw this comment on the day I posted the quake video! I hope you enjoy it.
I grew up in Tehachapi and moved away in 1993. It's not the cool little town I grew up in. I miss the climate up there but thats about it.
Why don't you do a history of the Tucson Time Division of the Southern Pacific?
Because I live in California! I don't even have any history books about the Tucson Division. If I ever make it out there though, I'll at least google some stuff to make a video. Thanks for checking it out!
How about doing a piece on slugs. The driverless engines
My understanding is that slugs were modified diesel-electric locos without prime movers or controls. They'd be powered via heavy cables from conventional loco, for higher sustained low-speed tractive effort. Like, for very heavy switching, transfers, or feeding humps. Absent such uses, no cow & calf sets (slugs & power-suppliers).
@@jacquesblaque7728 most ppl don't know what they are. It would be an interesting piece I think
Hello Mark
No need to tie down. We would just big hole the cars remaining on the track. Also, it was not an electric switch just a plain switch with a lock on it. I still have a recurring dream that I am at work with no switch key.
I have a request. I'd like some history on a water storage lagoon, located near the tracks south of Keene, California. I can email a pin if needed.
Yes. I don't know where that is unless it's the pond at the quarry above La Paz. That's their property but I can request access. The worst that can happen is they say no!
@@MarkClayMcGowan I know the people down there. If they say no, I'll call them.
@@semitavitae4729 I'll keep that in mind! I went to school with Ceasar Chavez' kids but they're probably retired by now too!
@@MarkClayMcGowan That's awesome!!!
There also used to be a wye at Summit for turning the helpers on eastbound trains to head back down the hill. It was located right where The Flying J is now and and the former right of way has probably been completely obliterated because of that recent construction. Check it out on Google Maps which has aerial pictures before the Flying J was built and it is quite obvious where it was.
goo.gl/maps/bQ4oUDzXMV1U2zdL8
Also check out the aerial view at Eric and the location of the wye is quite obvious.
goo.gl/maps/aDDb4AhozopXtP7SA
Yeah. I forgot about the one at Summit until I was already editing. The rails were still there into the 80s
I've got movie pictures of it (somewhere). I remember that they had railroad crossing signs on Tehachapi Blvd. because the tracks of the wye ran across the road. Thanks Mark, great videos.
Why do they leave trains runing for days weeks and months at a time with no one a round and no one goes to them for days weeks and mouths in the middel of no wear
They don't generally do that anymore. UP actually has a policy against it unless the locomotive is on a parked train and is keeping pressure for brakes.
Thanks for checking it out!
@@MarkClayMcGowan ok her in kansas you see it all the time its crazy
in chase county Kansas its crazy
Too much camera movement.
I'm just a guy who likes to share things. I'm not a professional. But thanks for checking it out!