NS 592 Racking Up the Horsepower and Scattering the Birds at MP 277 | Johnstown, PA

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NS loaded coal drag 592 (Shire Oaks, PA - Baltimore, MD) was WAYYYY too heavy to make it up the hill from CONPIT, so NS Pittsburgh East Dispatcher Hannah did what she does best and routed a 4 banger of SD40-2's down track 3 to pick up the 592 at CONPIT. The 592 was just about the start out when its crew reported problems with one of its two road units...TIME TO SEND DOWN A HELPER TO COUPLE AHEAD!! The rest is history. What can beat a helper ahead and a 4 banger on the rear of a loaded drag on the Pittsburgh Line? The answer ladies and gentlemen is...not much.

NS 592: Road Power: SD70M 2637 / C40-9W 9875 Helper Ahead: SD40-2's 3354/3343 4-Banger: SD40-2's 3341/3348/3336(CRQ)/3345

Location is "Old SG" at MP 277 in the west end of Johnstown, PA on Norfolk Southern's Pittsburgh Line.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• NS
• Norfolk Southern
• NS Pittsburgh Line
• NS West Slope
• Johnstown PA
• MP 277
• Old SG
• NS 592
• Coal Train
• Loaded Coal Drag
• Helpers
• SD40-2
• 4-Banger

[randommagnum]

Not saying there isn't a reason — I'm confident that there is — but isn't is a little ironic to see light power moving in opposite directions?

[AliceInChains243]

You know, I've been trying to figure out that reason for YEARS now, because I've been on the mountain on multiple occasions where the DS will route a helper set down one way to pick up a train, only to send them back up and over the other way for something else, then send them back down again, to the point where the on-duty crew didn't shove one train. I still can't find the sense in it, HUGE waste of fuel in my opinion. Even running LIGHT isn't cheap when it comes to those locomotives.

[dragonpullman]

The only thing that could possibly beat this would be 2 "Helper Ahead" SD40Es with a SD40E 4-Banger at the end of a train that has two standard cab SD70s for road power.

None the less, awesome footage!

[AliceInChains243]

Yea, I wouldn't have minded a set of E's on the head end. Its funny, considering that a pair of E's DID head west about an hour before this drag went up, problem was that they were on a 565 empty bucket, not going light for a pickup. I still can't believe they're "not allowed" to be used in helper service.

[NS6677]

@AliceInChains243 Really? They still arent?

[AliceInChains243]

@NS6677 Haha, pre-dated.

[simonspics1]

WOW! Thanks for sharing!

[NSrailfest]

that's a lot of SD40-2 power

[justkiddin08]

Very nice!!!! but light power in opposite directions? Great video tho.

[gtw4918]

I've never seen 4 sd40 helpers running light! 5 stars and favorited. Awesome horn!

[NSHorseheadSD70]

By the time that thing gets to Cassandra it'll be on its knees.