Back in the day, if UP E9's in passenger service needed a helper, what would it likely have been, especially on the city of Portland.
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Originally Posted by Forrest Jerome:
Back in the day, if UP E9's in passenger service needed a helper, what would it likely have been, especially on the city of Portland.
Forrest,
It depends on what time frame you are modeling, and whether you are modeling the Blue Mountains. If you like the steam era, then a 2-10-2 would most likely be helping on the point of the E9 units, westbound out of LaGrande, OR. However, in the diesel "streamliner era", the UP probably would have had enough "E" B units in the consist in order to maintain track speed up the Blue Mountain Grade.
Don't know about the City of Portland specifically, but the UP bought FM H16-44's and H20-44's for helper service in California, which were replaced in 1951 by EMD TR5-TR5B cow and calf sets.
Rusty
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"It depends on what time frame you are modeling, and whether you are modeling the Blue Mountains. If you like the steam era, then a 2-10-2 would most likely be helping on the point of the E9 units, westbound out of LaGrande, OR. However, in the diesel "streamliner era", the UP probably would have had enough "E" B units in the consist in order to maintain track speed up the Blue Mountain Grade"
HW, who knows what time frame i model? i have a wide range of motive power. I tend to get what i like. i was really thinking diesel, but lionel doesn't make a powered E9 B. i have the new legacy AA's and am adding some cars to this train and would like to have a little extra oomph. a B unit would sure be my first choice. not sure why i am asking the question given my lack of specificity as to time frame.
i was riding on the eastbound CoP as a child when they lost one unit. my awareness was not top notch then, but i think they had three units in the consist. it was the first night out so blue mountains might have been about right. we were moving pretty slowly.
How "bad" are the grades in the Blues.
Originally Posted by Dominic Mazoch:
How "bad" are the grades in the Blues.
I think The Blue Mountain Grade is 2% to 2.2%.
Forrest,
The UP tended to purchase their "E" units in sets of A-B-B, as did the Southern Pacific. I remember seeing UP passenger trains on the Overland Route across Nebraska, in the early 1960s, with "E" units in A-B-B-B MU consists.
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
I remember seeing UP passenger trains on the Overland Route across Nebraska, in the early 1960s, with "E" units in A-B-B-B MU consists.
I believe it. I need Lionel to make some B's. Not going to hold my breath.
