Norfolk Southern planning strikes again!
Mixed freight manifest train 16N, on this day, measured almost 7,000 feet, which isn't all that long, comparatively.
However, it weighed over 13,500 tons!
Head end power was GE AC44 #4387 and EMD SD70ACe #1182, with no dpu locomotives. This was a total of 8,700 horsepower for the entire train.
For those unfamiliar, Highland Cut is the highest point on the NS line between Pittsburgh and Chicago. Power needs here usually approach close to 1 HP per ton.
The western approach, for eastbound trains, is the steepest side with a variable grade fluctuating from approximately 0.7% up to a 1.5% grade over a distance less than 3 miles. Within that distance are 3 compound curves, including one that sweeps through the summit, and one grade crossing.
Heavy train, short on power, no dpu, bad hill... what could possibly go wrong? Oh, yeah, let's add in some rain to make everything slippery!
This merchandise train stalled about 3/10 of a mile from the crest of the hill, locally known as Summit Cut.
A pair of rescue engines from Conway were dispatched to bring the train over the hill. Typically, the manned helper engines run under the local helper symbol C80, whether as scheduled helpers, as light power, or as rescue engines.
Interestingly, this day, the usual C80 helper set of SD70ACU engines, #7297 & #7265, were assigned an ID that I rarely see them do... the ran west out of Conway as 16N-1.
In this video, we see 16N-1 run light on Main 2 west, past the stalled locomotives, to the rear of 16N. They then return east to CPWOOD, cross over to Main 1 east and receive permission against the signal to run Main 1 west to the stall.
While running west, approaching the stall, the conductor spots the rear and the couple on the head end.
Historically, the crew on the helper set will want to run Main 2 west to Enon, cross to Main 1, and come east as pushers. This is typically denied by brass because by that time, the original crew has outlawed and they don't have a second crew available.
Per usual, the original crew outlawed as the help crew coupled onto the head.
After needed preparations are made, the power set throttles up, with great deal of steam from the old Dash 9 rebuild, brakes release, and the consist begins to drag the slipping engines backwards down the hill.
After several attempts, with a great deal of bucking, they begin to pull the hill with ease then promptly stop.
After checking things over, westbound intermodal 269 is authorized to pass on M2W and perform a roll by. After rounding the curve, out our sight, the located a broken coupling.
The new crew marks the location, advances the forward part of the train to the summit, where the old crew departs to wait for a taxi. They then back down the hill to their previous position to wait for maintenance.
Cold, wet, and hungry, here we end our video as maintenance arrives. I met @WallieB26 and @MrMiz1113 at @eatnpark to get warned up!
Once maintenance arrived, repairs were made and 16N headed into Conway without further incident.
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