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| Last updated on December 1, 2020
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a great video by Andy of what I like best Helper Diesels lugging a heavy train up the hill. Helpers are getting rare because of the introduction of DPU and RCL where the end locomotives are replaced by robots and the power is controled from the head end the only places on my streach of the Union Pacific where Helpers still exist are Soldier Summit, and in the Blue Mountains my OSL use to use them but they are rare here and the helpers are used on locals now. Helper Utah on the Rio Grande is named after them a fitting tribute to the locomotives who lug the trains over Soldier Summit.
In the How To section of MRVP Dana has several videos about DCC consisting. This would probably work for pushing too. As for DC I wouldn't have a clue, but I'm sure someone has figured out a way to do it.
Is there any easy way to match head end power and pusher speeds?
Like Mr. Gould from NY, I'd be interested in learning what notch the pusher would be in. One guy I know shoves with the helper until slack is bunched, then notches out the lead power. I'm guessing it would be somewhat of a learning experience to know how much to push with the helper, but not shove cars off the track. Any advice on that Andy?
Neat video; I really liked that one.
-Tom
Andy, interesting video. One question, does the pusher signal the head end power that the pusher has uncoupled and the train can proceed?
Thanks Andy – really enjoy the learning aspects of RRing.. Thanks again
Very good video. Sometime it would be nice to have a video on setting up locomtives for modern DPU operations where the pusher is part of the power consist for the whole trip.
Nice looking train. Andy, how did you match the head power and pusher's speed?
Great operating video Andy, didn't some railroads uncouple their helpers "on-the-fly". In the past days? That's a hard thing to do in HO. Enjoyed the video, thanks.
Excellent modern era pusher operations video. Steam era increases the fun by having a caboose at the rear. Up front, double-heading adds to the cascade of whistle signals. Instead of consisting, two engineers recreate the excitement of steam helpers. Any way you do it, model railroading is fun.
Another great video from MR Video Plus! Would like to see more on operations. Especially on Train Orders and Timetable operation.
Great video Andy….but you forgot to take Fred off the tail end and put him on the nose of the pusher!!!