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Nostalgia & History > More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers.Date: 09/19/19 03:11 More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: Roadjob B&O's legendary mountain districts got all of the attention, and deservedly so, but to the east of the Alleghenies, there were hills to conquer that did not get the noteriety, but, presented the same operational headaches as the bigger mounds west of Cumberland. Today we'll take a look around at where else extra hustle muscle was used.
first series is a bit off the area of interest, but we'll show B&O around the area. top...As the 70s moved to mid decade, B&O power was gradually replacing the pure sets of Western Maryland first generation power on the Williamsport grade west of Hagerstown. Train is just east of Williamsport. middle...rare helper combo east of Hagerstown, shoving eastbound toward Highfield Md. 1976 bottom...Shoving an eastbound out of East Yard in Philadelphia. 1973 Bill Rettberg Bel Air, MD    Date: 09/19/19 03:15 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: Roadjob Back to Baltimore
top and middle show helpers shoving eastbounds into the Howard Street Tunnel. Top shows old tunnel configuration, and middle shows lengthened tunnel necessitated by building of an interstate connecting road into the city. bottom...1970, two geeps shoving eastbound toward Baltimore, passing Mount Winans yard. Bill Rettberg Bel Air, MD    Date: 09/19/19 03:20 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: Roadjob going west a bit just east of Brunswick at Point of Rocks Maryland.
top...3 Geeps push eastbound on Metropolitan subdivision.1974 middle... eastbound passing waiting helpers on Met. 1971 bottom...helpers shoving eastbound up old main line. 1974 Bill Rettberg Bel Air, MD    Date: 09/19/19 03:23 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: Roadjob My home turf, the Baltimore Beltline.
top...eastbound just past North Ave. 1965 middle...Early shot from Huntingdon Ave near top of eastbound grade out of downtown, 1964 bottom...not as exciting as the previous 2 but still a good show. North Ave. in background 1976 Bill Rettberg Bel Air, MD    Date: 09/19/19 03:28 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: Roadjob top and middle...The old mainline of the B&O through Pittsburgh was a roller coaster. To get westbounds out of the city, helpers were frequently needed on the coal and ore drags that frequented this line. The hot trains skirted the city on P&LE trackage rights. Both early 70s
bottom...eastbound at Miller tower, Cherry Run WVa. heavy trains not able to take the low grade line would get help through here.1975 Bill Rettberg Bel Air, MD    Date: 09/19/19 03:31 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: Roadjob top...drifting far afield, borrowed B&O unit is shoving a westbound Reading freight out of Allentown yard
middle and bottom.... one last look at a couple of shots I found of Helpers on Sand Patch. Bill Rettberg Bel Air, MD    Date: 09/19/19 03:59 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: ClubCar Bill, all of your photos are fabulous and you should put a complete book together. I know that it costs money to do this; however, maybe the B&O Historical Society would aid you. I am astonished at all the outstanding photos that you took on both the B&O and the Western Maryland. I realize that you also took many great photos of other railroads but to me since I personally loved both the B&O and the Western Maryland, I appreciate everything that you have posted thus far. Please continue to share them with us along with your stories. One final thing; in that first photo showing the train coming out of the Howard Street Tunnel, one can also see the B&O passenger train on the upper level of Camden Station in Baltimore. That really hits the spot as I remember this so well. I should have spent some time doing what you did, take a lot of photos. Thanks so much once again.
John in White Marsh, Maryland Date: 09/19/19 05:12 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: refarkas Another excellent set of photos. Your ability to capture the train in the scene so well amazes me.
Bob Date: 09/19/19 07:26 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: WM_1109 Is there no end? (I certainly hope not.)
Your posts alone are worth the price of admission, Bill. /Ted Date: 09/19/19 07:37 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: 3rdswitch Another outstanding bunch. It is amazing they allowed that much power pushing on the caboose!
JB Date: 09/19/19 09:48 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: ghemr Great series of photos---I enjoyed looking at them!
Date: 09/19/19 12:46 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: krm152 Outstanding action photos of first generation power.
Like each and every one. Thanks for the posting. ALLEN Date: 09/19/19 18:53 Re: More bumps, more power! Where else did they need helpers. Author: SCKP187 Very nice set of photos and series on helper service. It certainly is nice to see all the different first generation power consists.
Brian Stevens |