OPERATIONS: RARE VIDEO! HELPER SERVICE IN ACTION on the Glacier Line

Great Video & Layout!  

Do you use conventional running ? or DCS or TMCC systems ?  

John, Another great video.  Thanks for sharing.

I run on a HO layout where helper operations are routine.  This layout is a model of the C&O climb from Hinton, West Virginia through the Allegheny mountains.  A train will have have a big articulated on the front followed by 50 loaded coal hoppers.  The helper on the rear is another big articulated steam engine.  (I don't remember the C&O class.)  Digital command control (DCC) is used to control engines.  Two engineers are required to control the front engine and the helper.  It takes skill and coordination between the two engineers to get the train safely to the top of the grade.  The helper cuts off at the summit and is turned on a turntable located there for that purpose.  Then the road engine continues with the train and the help returns to Hinton.

It is more difficult to do steam helper service in O gauge because most O gauge steam engines have a scale instead of a claw coupler.  I suppose that the front coupler could be replaced with a claw but it wouldn't look as good.

Helper operations are a good addition to any mountain railroad.

NH Joe

John, Thanks for another great explanation and demonstration. Keep them coming.

WRGMILW posted:

Great Video & Layout!  

Do you use conventional running ? or DCS or TMCC systems ?  

 

We are DCS only.  The layout is capable of being run conventionally.  However, we generally have three people operating at any one time and at times 4 and 5 people operating.  The Glacier Line can become very busy very quickly.

I'm so thankful for DCS (and other command systems) because this was the kind of stuff you could only dream about 30+ years ago, less throwing hundreds of block switches and a highly trained crew.  DCS makes everything so EASY; including being able to control multiple locos as a single unit.

I remember long ago trying to coordinate two engines to work in tandem.  It was a challenge.  There's nothing better than DCS!  :-)

New Haven Joe posted:

John, Another great video.  Thanks for sharing.

I run on a HO layout where helper operations are routine.  This layout is a model of the C&O climb from Hinton, West Virginia through the Allegheny mountains.  A train will have have a big articulated on the front followed by 50 loaded coal hoppers.  The helper on the rear is another big articulated steam engine.  (I don't remember the C&O class.)  Digital command control (DCC) is used to control engines.  Two engineers are required to control the front engine and the helper.  It takes skill and coordination between the two engineers to get the train safely to the top of the grade.  The helper cuts off at the summit and is turned on a turntable located there for that purpose.  Then the road engine continues with the train and the help returns to Hinton.

It is more difficult to do steam helper service in O gauge because most O gauge steam engines have a scale instead of a claw coupler.  I suppose that the front coupler could be replaced with a claw but it wouldn't look as good.

Helper operations are a good addition to any mountain railroad.

NH Joe

I'd love to see video on your layout New Haven Joe.

You are right about the steam engines.  I have only ONE, an 0-4-0 MTH Premier steamer (got it about a year ago) that has operating couplers on both ends!  I wish that all steamers did.