Western Railroad Discussion > Helper Sunday

Here are a few images from the helper district at Crawford, Nebraska on the BNSF.   These coal trains originate from  mines in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana and encounter a major grade extending from Crawford to Belmont, Nebraska.  These images were all made in 2014 and, at the time, BNSF had three to four, two unit helper sets running out of Crawford.   The helpers are added northwest of town and shove all the way to the summit at Belmont, Nebraska.  Most of the trains I shot ran in a 2X1 dpu setup with the manned helpers on the rear.   What a great trip!

Dave

Image 1   Helper pockets at Crawford
Image 2   Helpers drifting downgrade past Breezy Point.
Image 3   Illustrates just how steep the grade is here. 

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Image 4  Helpers shoving a loaded train at same location as image 3
Image 5  Helpers drifting downgrade on the east side of the horseshoe curve.
 

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Image 6   Helpers passing Breezy Point from the east side of the curve.
Image 7   The golden hour.
Image 8   From Breezy Point, you can get both the head end and helpers in the same Image. 

Thanks for Looking!

Dave

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Nice shots!

RC Lundgren
Elgin, TX

That's quit a grade, I'm guessing 2%+?

Quit=Quite 

Great shots!