Nostalgia & History > When the Tehachapis Are Golden, September 1982

These four photos were taken in September 1982 of SP 8824 and train west of Bealville, CA.  They are in the sequence they were taken.  This was one of Roger's favorite spots.

[EDIT]  Photo 4 is of a different train.  See comments.

Enjoy,
Marty Bernard



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/17 16:57 by MartyBernard.

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/17 15:54 by MartyBernard.

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Last one is a different train on the other track, looks like an eastbound with two helper sets cut in. Was there a photo of the head end of it?

Yes, different trains

Two helper sets....unusual?!

Yes, I see that there are two trains.  These are slides 3, 4, 5, and 6 from the same roll of film.  There are no other shots from that location right before or after them.  I've searched everything I'm have scanned.  Roger did catch a AT&SF train in the spot about the same time.

Marty

Back in those days is was common to see trains on the Saugus line with mid train and rear helpers.

exhaustED Wrote:
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> Two helper sets....unusual?!

Not unusual in 1981-82

WAF Wrote:
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> exhaustED Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
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> > Two helper sets....unusual?!
>
> Not unusual in 1981-82

Correct, most east bounds had swing and rear helpers sets.

V

SLOCONDR

Nice looking series Marty, thanks for sharing.  That westbound at Bealville maybe the WCMEM and the eastbound the JRCIP.

Kent in CArmel Valley

Marty:  Pics 1-3 is the same train shown in the first couple of pics here:

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4228880

Notice this train (which had the B30-7 leading) now has a point helper going down the mountain.  Either the helper was picked up at Tehachapi or it was moved from mid-train to the point at some unknown location (did see that happen a few times in the early 1980's).  Odd to see an SP wb freight with only 3 units, two of which were 4 axle.  The helper on the point is likely because the 3 road units don't have enough dymanic brakes, by themselves, to make it down the mountain safely.


Allen

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/17 20:03 by bradleymckay.

What looked unusual to me was the double, two-unit helpers sets.   Usually SP piled in more units.   

crackerjackhoghead Wrote:
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> Back in those days is was common to see trains on
> the Saugus line with mid train and rear helpers.

This train has 2 sets of mid-train helpers....the rear end can't be seen...

Fizzboy7 Wrote:
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> What looked unusual to me was the double, two-unit
> helpers sets.   Usually SP piled in more units.
>   

Depended on tonnage and whether it was going via the Cutoff or via Saugus.  Most likely the 2 unit helper was removed at Summit, while the "big helper" went down the hill with the train to Fleta, Ansel or Oban.  Sometimes depended if a wb needed a helper west out of Mojave.  More often than not the helper would be cut into the westbound at the west switch Ansel.


Allen