NS Coal Train With SD80MAC's as Rear Helpers July 13 2009

[brandonissocoollike]

where is horseshoe curve? harrisburg? where?

[iusetano]

@brandonissocoollike Horseshoe Curve is on the west side of Altoona Pennsylvania on the Pittsburg Line. You can find it on Google Earth. Harrisburg is the largest city east of Altoona

[dan9325]

Excellent shot! That's the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen

[iusetano]

Thank you. The scenery is great. Pennsylvania is so far one of my favorite places to visit.

[pwalpar]

Thats quite a down hill grade, I wonder if they had to put the retainer valves in HP. I doubt the SD 80 engines were there for braking power. Good catch Hans

[iusetano]

Thanks Walter. I don't know if they use the retainer valves. I'm sure some will tell us if they do though. I'd appreciate it.

[FastFlyingVirginian]

When I was there during Railfest this year (end of June), I was privy to a discussion about whether or not retainers were used, and the answer was an emphatic no.

I recall seeing a move just like this on that trip too (when I had packed up the camera to leave, natch), and the 80MACs sounded as if they were using their dynamics. I think it's some kind of arrangement to have them pre-positioned to return the train to South Fork, having them on the rear like that. I thought it was a bit odd.

[iusetano]

Thank you my friend for responding to our question. To bad I had to work that weekend, I would like to have meet you.

[FastFlyingVirginian]

I wish I could have spent more time up there, it was great fun on the Station Inn porch each night. I figure my next trip up won't be until the fall color peak, and this time I'll stay at the Station Inn instead of just close by. It would be cool if we got enough YouTube railfans to converge at the same time to book the entire Inn at once.

[Tjsingle14]

i believe the MACS are only on there cause the coal train orginated in South Fork, on the secondary