Nostalgia & History > Warbonnet Wednesday: Once the Longest

An eastbound climbs the last few yards toward the summit at Yampai on the Seligman Sub, August 2007. The 107.5 track miles from Topock to Yampai, approximately five thousand feet higher in elevation, was reputed to be the longest continuous helper district in the US before the arrival of diesels.
Be of good cheer,
—Mac
www.lowellamrine.com

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Great scene - Hiding off to the right is a geographical feature that almost appears a mirage.
Bob

Very nice Mac!

Great shot, Mac!

texchief1

The steam helper district was Needles to Williams.    There were only three short breaks in the eastbound grade.    East Kingman to the bottom of the sag,  Yampai to Audley, and Crookton to Ash Fork.    Westbounds drifting down this is what got Santa Fe to install drifting valves on the steam engines operated here.    The drifting valves allowed operating the engine with the throttle closed for long periods of time and keep the cylinders lubricated.   Without them you would need to keep the slightly open to keep them lubricated and then you are "working" steam going down hill, not a good idea.    Around about 1961 Santa Fe finished the Crookton Cutoff eliminating Ash Fork and Williams from the mainline and eliminating the downhill stretch from Crookton to Ash Fork.    So today the grade only relents in two places.    The hardest pull was from Ash Fork to Williams and they would need to add power at Ash Fork.    The other big problem was/is the tunnel in Johnson Canyon that has a circular lining of iron plates bolted together and has limited clearance.    That tunnel is what determined the El Capitan Hilevels to have the sharper curve in the roof at the corners.    That was the original line.   The second main built in the 1920's goes way out and around Johnson Canyon and that is the line used today for the Peavine down to Phoenix.

Richard.

Nice catch of Warbonnet 775 on the very point.

Larry

Thanks, obviously before the curse.
—Mac

Ritzville Wrote:
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> Nice catch of Warbonnet 775 on the very point.
>
> Larry