>> Several problems are readily apparent here :
>> 1) The NTSB report states that "...both
>> locomotives were equipped with dynamic brakes, but
>> they were inoperable...", yet the crash photo
>> clearly shows the rear unit ( F - 40 ) has no
>> dynamic brake fan or vents on the carbody.

>Good questions.

>The dynamic braking feature was removed when rebuilt for Harsco service.

If anything, the NTSB is very thorough. It looks like the dynamic apparatus may be there, the grids at least. I believe these were rebuilt Via units in which there was blended braking but no provision for manual operation of the dynamics

>>> 2) The report also states that "... the engineer
>> and conductor - pilot had never traveled the
>> territory before ..." . Why would Ewe - Pee assign
>> an unqualified conductor to ANY such pilot service
>> ???


>The Harsco supervisor had specifically requested an engineer as a pilot, which in theory would've been the first-out Mountain Pool engineer. However, UP supplied a trainman off the Extra Board, citing no Pool engineers being available at the calling time. The trainman was a Sparks man, relatively young in seniority, and being a Sparks man had never worked between Sparks and Roseville before. He brought this fact to the attention of the local management, but was instructed to go anyway.

The "local manager" was subsequently de-horned, went back to the tools, and later got fired (most likely for something else). Believe me he was a real piece of work.