Nostalgia & History > Unusual power on #14 at Eugene

Actually the switcher came down from the yard to take headend helper SD45 8992 off the point of the Starlight at Eugene. The year was 1979 (I think...)

Photobobs website
http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/index1.html

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Why would they waste fuel, and have a switcher pick up the loco, instead of just running the locomotive into the yard, by itself?

Nice photo, btw,
Alex Ramos

alex14ramos Wrote:
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> Why would they waste fuel, and have a switcher
> pick up the loco, instead of just running the
> locomotive into the yard, by itself?
>
> Nice photo, btw,
> Alex Ramos

Well who would do this? Not the Amtrak crew... So that leaves a SP crew. Why how would they get there? Take another engine of course.... Why drive when you can get there via rail.

Craig

In fact without the switch engine showing up or another crew or Hostler and Hearder showing up via van or other means there would be no crew there to make the move. The inbound Amtrak crew would not be qualified to take the unit whereever, the roundhouse most likely. The outbound Amtrak crew would be busy cutting the F-40 back in and making the required air test(Because controlling unit was changed.) Andy

In 1979...the Amtrak trians were still run by the host railroad. These would have been SP crews then on #14. Looking at the pic you can see the inbound and outbound crews standing there. Those days the road crews didn't do any hostling or yard work. Just think...back in those days
it took 10 crew members to get the train from Portland to Klamath Falls. Only 4 now...

Those were the good old days or sure! Long gone now...Now there is nothing to look forward to except retirement for the lucky ones.

Rail1