Hot CR B&A Helpers

[Ian MacMillan]

Late 90's on the B&A with rear helpers! Something that CR reportedly got rid of on this line in 1986!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Look at the class lamps on THAT baby...

[sparky]

Homey needs some video editing software so you don't have to wait through 37 seconds of nothing until the train enters the frame!

[asciibaron]

Homey needs some video editing software so you don't have to wait through 37 seconds of nothing until the train enters the frame!

i actually like hearing them whine as they climb - you ever been to Terra Alta, WV - you hear that sound for 30 minutes before you see the locos.

btw, what is a primover?

-steve

[Chris333]

As a kid in Hubbard, OH I watched many coal trains on the way to Ashtabula Harbor with with helpers. Then later I would see just the helpers return. I haven't seen helpers on any train for years.

[Ian MacMillan]

Homey needs some video editing software so you don't have to wait through 37 seconds of nothing until the train enters the frame!

i actually like hearing them whine as they climb - you ever been to Terra Alta, WV - you hear that sound for 30 minutes before you see the locos.

btw, what is a primover?

-steve

Ditto here....hearing the prime mover dig into Charlton Hill for a distance is one of the best parts of the vid

[The Donkey]

Big time reminder of the CR long grain trains that worked the grade eastbound past my
schools growing up. (middle, junior, & high were all in a line along the old PRR main) &
I always kept an eye out for CR #7760 on helper duty.

NS doesn't run trains like that/this on the line anymore of course, not to mention much
less traffic. A great memory trigger though in a sense-thanks!

[Ian MacMillan]

I always love seeing the SD40-2 helper sets on Horseshoe Curve. I wasn't old enough to remember the helpers when CR eliminated them on the B&A. CR required all trains to have enough headend power to keep the train moving through the Berkshires after '88. But man this vid is sweet as it was filmed around 1996, so that is MAJOR sweet!