Ernest H. Robl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Union Pacific has used its steamers in revenue
> freight
> service at times -- either when checking out the
> engines
> after major shop work or when deadheading back
> from a
> special (where the passenger cars are either left
> behind
> or sent to another location).
>
> And, I think it at least one case, UP deliberatly
> ran
> a steamer on a stack train for publicity purposes
> for
> an intermodal customer.
>
>
> There was a story in Railfan & Railroad a number
> of years
> ago (if I recall correctly) where one of the UP
> steamers
> was returning from a test run and a freight train
> in front
> of it got into trouble. The dispatcher asked the
> steam
> crew if it was willing to help, and they were.
> The
> dispatcher had the steamer (I think it was the
> Challenger,
> but would have to go back and look) couple up to
> the back
> of the freight -- and after exchanging radio
> messages
> with the freight crew, it began pushing.
>
> The freight crew didn't pay any particular
> attention to the
> number of the engine pushing and wasn't really
> aware of
> what type of engine it was. At some point there
> was a
> radio conversation (fairly common for manned
> pusher service)
> with the head end crew saying something like
> "We're in
> the sixth notch. What notch are you in?"
> And, the steamer replied something like, "We're in
> the
> 32nd."
>
> Of course typical modern diesel locomotives only
> have eight
> throttle settings -- while the throttle on a big
> steamer
> can have a lot of click stops.
>
> Some minor details -- like the actual throttle
> settings --
> may not be exact -- but the story itself is
> apparently true.
>
> -- Ernest

# 1.. The UP 3985 was the engine on the stack train. It was a demonstration to officials of American President Lines (APL).. 7000 tons gross-- No Diesel helpers...

# 2.. Diesel and STEAM MU hookups should sync pretty well as the STEAM crew has a remote
throttle for the diesel lashup that THEY control..

Henry...