Western Railroad Discussion > Tehachapi work window/helpers

Due to lack of power and units that are DPU equipped, (equipment that will continually work). Don't forget that after the holidays the MOUNTAIN WORK WINDOWS begin once again. The U.P. looks at it like this, both U.P. and BNSF are instructed that during the work windows trains that are DPU if possible will be knocked down and ran as manned helpers... Reason being, WHEN ONE TRAIN HAS PROBLEMS ON THE MOUNTAIN, WE ALL HAVE PROBLEMS ON THE MOUNTAIN.

Remember the first tie project about 7 years ago, BNSF employed a Captive Helper set stationed up at the old K and J spur in Tehachapi. Two crews each working 12hrs (6am-6pm) (6pm-6am) would sit on these units and just wait to be called by the dispatcher to assist a train in trouble.

The reason for the U.P. helper board is that they do not have an extra board like the BNSF. The old S.P. if you remember had an helper board that only the highest of seniority held. Remember David Bunting, one of the top engineers that only worked the helper board up to the last day U.P. removed it from Bakersfield. He was the only one on the board acct. the U.P. cut it down to one person just before abolishing it.

So to get prepared for the MOUNTAIN WORK WINDOWS, the U.P. will re-advertise the helper boards. Also, the U.P. has so many new engineers that some of these guys/gals have never ran a helper on the mountain.

A good helper engineer will most likely keep his radio traffic very short, know the location of the head-end of the train he is helping at all times, and always run by the AMP meter and air gauge. He/she will always know what the head-end engineer is doing by just watching the gauges in spite of talking on the radio. . The radios just don't work in the tunnels.

Dennis

GOOD INFO !

Thanks a lot for the heads up, Dennis!

For the DPU trains (QRVWC, QPDWC), will they run manned helpers Bakersfield - W. Colton, or only just over the hill, Bakersfield - Mojave.

This is gonna be very interesting on the mountain!