A Union Pacific coal train having helpers added.(unedited)

[@ut000bs]

What a cool video. Never saw helpers being added before. I grew up in Tennessee where we didn't see a lot of helpers even on our big coal trains but out West with the mountains it's sure a lot different. The longest train I ever remember seeing was in Wyoming. A train full of tanker cars with a ton of locomotives, 4-4-4. It was not going very slow at all seemed to take an hour to pass. I was in heaven with all of those prime movers notched up, screaming, pushing that train. Thank you for the video! Edit: I assume this is a short trip over the hump and they'll pull them off again?

[@jamesedwards9857]

That sounds like it was a very cool train to watch! Yes, they use the helper locomotives until they reach an area known as Soldier Sumit, and then remove them there, and the helpers return back to Helper. The ruling grade on Soldier Sumit is around 2-2.5%.

[@trcmarvinmg]

That's the coal train we operate to unload at Trona CA. Great catch.

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thanks for the information. I never knew where they take it to. Thanks for the comment!

[@slashmacleod]

4 Mid-train helpers is a ton of power, but then Soldier summit is a heck of a hill *(for mainline ops). AFAIK Helper is one of the few places where trains still add manned power. Been that way since D&RGW built the line in the 1880s. (They actually had a town at Soldier Summit for a while before building what became Thistle)

[@jamesedwards9857]

Soldier Sumit has a ruling grade of 2-2.5% indeed. The process of getting coal over it hasn't changed much since then. Other than the technology, such diesel over steam and EOTD's/FRED's instead of caboose's.

[@markthomas6436]

​. Westbound grade is 2.4%.

[@DwayneDavis3]

Absolutely awesome...it's one thing to watch video's of trains passing with dpu's scattered about but this is the first time I've seen them actually being added! This was quite the catch!

[@jamesedwards9857]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment!

[@tnine3]

Im in and out of the BNSF yard down here in here Commerce, CA. Always cool watching them take off and the unloading/loading process of trailers. Nice video!

[@jamesedwards9857]

That's really cool! Thanks for the comment!

[@terrycollins754]

That was a great video !!! I enjoyed it. Thank you so much

[@jamesedwards9857]

Your welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@rolpfeiffer4011]

Thanks airing and sharing the outstanding video with magnificent locomotives. Railfanning endeavors are prominent. Bliss

[@jamesedwards9857]

You're welcome. Thank you for your comment!

[@rickmiller1429]

And that is why this town is named Helper.

[@jamesedwards9857]

Yes indeed!

[@sernajrlouis]

Cool video and channel just subscribed

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thank you! For the comment and subscribe!

[@GY51360]

Nice video. I enjoyed that

[@jamesedwards9857]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment!

[@joestrainworldvideos3977]

Magnificent job. Great capture. Greetings Joe 😊

[@jamesedwards9857]

Many thanks! I subscribed to you also!

[@Chainsaw600]

We saw mid helpers all the time on BNSF when trains passed through Texas Panhandle coming from the coal mines up north. We are now in Arkansas and see only front and rear loco’s on the UP coal trains headed south from Kansas City.

[@GEVOlutionCPKC]

Another breaking It friend amazing video 👍🏽

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thank you!

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

Wow! Great video

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thank you!

[@TaylorRodCarter]

Epic video I love trains

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thank you for your comment!

[@franzbrunner499]

on June 20, 2021, I was in Helper -the maneuver you showed us in this video was already completed -but I remember the roaring sound of the helper locos when the train started moving -if you are in Helper, I recommend visiting the Western Mining and Railroad Museum, very very interesting

[@jamesedwards9857]

I have been to that museum in Helper! It's a great way to learn some history of the area!

[@carl4684]

Front middle & push for a hilly good trip ! Physics is always involved ! Kool

[@jamesedwards9857]

Yep. Thanks for your comment!

[@backalleyrailroading2835]

Sweet upload of the whole show !!!

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thank you!

[@espeescotty]

Weeell...looky who it is! I was actually thinking about you when I was watching this one, Richard. It reminded me of your vids, only with big road power and many more cars. After seeing this, now I want to go back to Helper again!!! 🤠🤙

[@backalleyrailroading2835]

@@espeescotty Thanks Scotty. Appreciate that !!

[@espeescotty]

@@backalleyrailroading2835 For sure! I was just glad you were here just when I was thinking you might like this one.

[@SIERRASGRANDES]

MUY BUENO FUI CONDUCTOR DE JOVENCITO TRENES PASAJEROS EN LOS 80 90 EN ARGENTINA MUY BUENAS LOCOMOTORAS

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thank you! That's very cool that you were a driver!

[@TimD1952]

Cool, as a CPKC retiree from Canada, this is what I loved to do.

[@jamesedwards9857]

Right on! I didn't know that they did that!

[@mccoy79productions66]

Aweseome!

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thank you!

[@demil3618]

👍👍👍

[@jamesedwards9857]

👍

[@esterribeirotrens.8456]

Boa noite amigo! Inscrita no Canal! Muito obrigada por compartilhar! Saudações do Brasil 🇧🇷 com grande like!😊

[@jamesedwards9857]

Bom dia/boa noite para você! Obrigado pela inscrição! E saudações de Utah! (Espero que o Google Tradutor funcione bem haha)

[@alexandrelacerda75]

@@jamesedwards9857Google translator did well. I’m originally from state of Minas Gerais living in Miami. Great video. Big fan of GE sounds. Hope one day visit Utah.

[@daleshipman7139]

Excellent video. I also just subscribed to your channel.

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thanks for the comment and for the sub!

[@UnionPacificACe_AHProductions]

Awesome sight

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thank you!

[@UnionPacificACe_AHProductions]

@@jamesedwards9857 you're welcome

[@popsflying]

cool..... sub`d

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thank you so much for the sub!

[@tigertiger1699]

🙏🙏🙏 beautiful

[@jamesedwards9857]

Thank you!

[@tigertiger1699]

@@jamesedwards9857 Mate.., here in NZ🇳🇿.., they used to be called “Bankers”…., they would help the train up the bank… As a young fireman.., our Dad RIP.., drove the Ja, K & Ka steamers.., then later years the Diesels.. including the GE U26C in the “banker” role…, up the Raurimu Spiral.. 1:33 grade… As a youngster… absolutely loved the cab rides on “my” locomotives 😂👍

[@urbanjansson8632]

In Sweden the iron ore trains are impressive, but this train is certainly a heck of an other dimension! But how are all these locos controlled?

[@jamesedwards9857]

The front locomotives have the main engineer(driver) and conductor. The middle helper set also has an engineer and conductor, and the rear locomotive is remote controlled, aka DPU from the lead locomotives.

[@bennetts-revenge_2]

​@jamesedwards9857 wow you answered a question I was going to ask. Thanks

[@carl4684]

The humans are counted on for constant support of the horsepower necessary ? Pulling or speed control

[@jasoncutlip950]

@@carl4684to be fair, you are mostly in notch 8 about 80% of the time, you don't do a whole lot until the train slows down for the summit.

[@leoe8304]

Thanks for the video. However, it would be nice to know where you have taken those pictures? What kind of train/engines it is, etc.

[@jamesedwards9857]

Your welcome! This was filmed at the Amtrak station/UP yard office in Helper Utah. However, I'm not entirely certain on the exact models of each of those locomotives, other than the fact that they are all manufactured by GE/Wabtec. You can look up the locomotive numbers, and you should be able to find out the exact details of each of them.

[@DaveBeard24]

Looks like helper, utah

[@jamesedwards9857]

Yes it is!

[@DaveBeard24]

@@jamesedwards9857 I live in Utah been up there few times in my life god place for some train action

[@oubrioko]

swing helpers

[@jamesedwards9857]

Yep

[@hmolenaar7233]

helpers at helper (ut)

[@jamesedwards9857]

Yes!

[@williamedwards1528]

So, is the last engine controlled by the helpers or by the lead engine? I assume the helpers are independently controlled?

[@jeromyt6873]

Helpers are manned units and distributed power units (DPU's) are unmanned, remote controled. Things like this usually just help them over the hump and then go back to town and then repeat. Kinda like a tug boat for trains. They help them out of the harbor

[@jamesedwards9857]

Yes, the mid train helpers are manned, so they can be returned back to Helper. The locomotive on the rear is a DPU controlled by the front locomotives.

[@vernacular1483]

Sounds like a seniority job

[@jamesedwards9857]

@@vernacular1483 Yes indeed It takes a skilled crew to do that job right.

[@jasoncutlip950]

Surprisingly, the seniority is fairly low, as there are only so many senior guys who want to live in Helper.

[@KapitanPisoar1]

Bad joint :D

[@jamesedwards9857]

Indeed

[@ironhorsethrottlemaster5202]

Awesome catch of a Coltrane in helper Utah do you live in helper are you a local r a i l fan if you are I live in Castle Dale I am also a fellow r a i l fan and railroad artist do you want to talk trains one day shoot me a comment peace out man have a great day

[@jamesedwards9857]

That's cool! I didn't think anyone in Castle Dale liked trains lol!

[@ironhorsethrottlemaster5202]

@@jamesedwards9857 I was raised in the Salt Lake Valley so I'm not from Castle Dale I just ended up moving here

[@jamesedwards9857]

@ironhorsethrottlemaster5202 Cool, Price is my hometown and current town I live in.

[@konanpine7413]

What town is that

[@gbdave]

Looks like Helper, Ut

[@jamesedwards9857]

It is called Helper Utah. Here's the Wikipedia link: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helper,_Utah

[@MrHunt916]

Helpers being added in Helper. Nice play on

[@jamesedwards9857]

@@MrHunt916 thank you!

[@bigwheelsturning]

A lot of Carbon there to turn into CO2. I can feel the heat now.

[@GPz84]

Headed to your local power plant so that people can charge their Teslas.

[@jamesedwards9857]

That's a lot of heat 🥵.

[@jasoncutlip950]

How else would you power your phone to complain about coal?

[@bigwheelsturning]

@@jasoncutlip950 With my solar charger that I use now.

[@jasoncutlip950]

@@bigwheelsturning huh, where did the electricity come from to manufacture that solar charger?

[@ironhorsethrottlemaster5202]

Fellow r a i l fans are hard to find out here

[@jamesedwards9857]

In my area they are.