Out here in Northwest Indiana on the Canadian National lines, occasionally you'll see a BNSF coal consist run on their lines and they always have a helper on the end, I've got a video of it, if anyone wants to see not sure if the helper is manned or not. Great video u have here.
Unusual indeed! I was thinking it could have been hobos catching a ride, but then with the friendly horn honk at the end, crew members seems much more likely.
wher is the helper
yanking1221 3 months ago
Out here in Northwest Indiana on the Canadian National lines, occasionally you'll see a BNSF coal consist run on their lines and they always have a helper on the end, I've got a video of it, if anyone wants to see not sure if the helper is manned or not. Great video u have here.
MrRobotoish 7 months ago
the helpers in Pennsylvania are always manned being they detach at the ends of Horseshoe Curve
trainmasta227 7 months ago
I wonder if the are dropping off some of the cars in differant locations and they need the rear units to do so..
jimmydcap 9 months ago
@jimmydcap no, these helpers only went 10 miles or so and got off... Its just rare to see helpers on a solid trailer train.
Trains232 9 months ago
Here in the UK the two locomotives on the back we call "bankers"
Defiance47 9 months ago
What does the stuff say at the end mean?
billy9038 9 months ago
I'm an old retired ATSF Engineer. This is something ATSF started years ago BNSF kept it going. We called them Piggybacks. Great video :-)
MrCraig1930 9 months ago
What a great shot , I love it! :)
trainfart 9 months ago
You really lucked out! I've spent some time trackside, not thousands of hours, but hours and hours... and I've never seen anything like this!
Besides lucking out, you actually got horn!
dekfungton 9 months ago
Awesome!
Aero203 9 months ago
Awesome catch, everything is good about this video. Happy national train day.
LocalRailfan 9 months ago
Helpers are pretty common here on the Joint Line, but rare do they give us a horn salute. Excellent catch!
trainsruleandroll 9 months ago
BUDDY!!! Thats SICK!!! lol
theGUYwho1 9 months ago
great catch!
CSXchas 9 months ago
haha! I laughed when I saw that! nice catch!
fixierider97 9 months ago
Great wide shot. Shows the expanse of the background. Excellent video.
iusetano 9 months ago
Unusual indeed! I was thinking it could have been hobos catching a ride, but then with the friendly horn honk at the end, crew members seems much more likely.
TheMadNorsky 9 months ago
Wow this is great. Thanks for sharing with us.
motorolca 9 months ago
LOL! Nice catch.
I have seen it before also, but the ones I have seen have been crew members just catching a ride & not actually in control of the power.
JayJr2007 9 months ago