It amazes me that under "normal" conditions, ALL westbounds make the same run on the single track from Lakeside Jct. to Cheney, but as soon as they have to run via the ex-NP in the lower 2/3 of the canyon, they need help over that same top section (?). The best show occurs when something causes a re-route off of the lower part of the grade, but somebody might be switching at Marshall--which results in a westbound run up the "connection" (actually a half-mile long CTC-ed cross-over, for those of you unfamiliar with the area) from East Marshall up to Scribner on the nearly adjacent but higher ex-SP&S. That track has to be the ruling grade on the entire hill, but I have seen it pulled without helpers. The UP trains usually use the connection downhill (eastbound), but don't have to. They HAVE to use it westbound if there is a problem with the high side from Latah Jct. to Scribner. The UP has occasionally used helpers for this if they have an available crew and enough notice.