How times have changed! In May of 1999, Yours truly, (I hate that!) Carol Voss, Ted Benson, Dick Steinheimer, Dick Dorn and the late Guy Dunscomb were invited to ride Sparks to Roseville for the
dedication of the rebuilt Roseville yard. UP provided on AC44 as a helper to the 844 and the 3985 for the 22 car train which with the two additional water bottles brought the trailing tonnage to 1800 tons. Things were going well up the 2.28% grade out of Cold Stream and thru Andover, however we we got about a 1/4 mile inside Tunnel 41, and the diesel overheated and gave up the ghost and shut down. I heard Steve Lee on the scanner telling the engineer that backing out was no an option and that to hook 'em now to try to get through the Big Hole. At that time we were at walking speed and as soon as they opened up the throttles you could feel a surge in the baggage car as the two steamers started to put more tractive effort to the rails. At the same time, the conductor got on the intercom and told everyone to close all the vestibules to cut-down on the smoke. Needless to say the sound inside tunnel 41 was deafening as the stack talk reverberated off the ceiling. Steve Lee on the scanner said they got the train going about 19 mph and it was getting hot in the cab of the 844. When we finally got over the Summit at the west end of Tunnel 41, Steve stopped the train at Norden. I piled out took a few pics and asked to Steve Lee what it was like inside the Big Hole. He said they were on oxygen because they couldn't breathe and that another minute inside the Big Bore would have cooked 'em. As it was they crews overalls were so hot they could barely touch 'em! Steve said he had a greater appreciation for SP trains crews before the Cab-Forwards conquered the Hill! I think if they steamers come west again for the 30th anniversary of Railfair in 2011, they might use 2 SD-40-T-2 for helpers just as the SP did.