Another Precision Day on CSX
CSX W987-29 is stop on the main in the town of Cowan, TN (MP J-87.0 S. Cowan) waiting on the dispatcher to give the pusher the restriction signal to proceed back into the helper pocket. Note that their isn't any helper link on the motor consist. Well that was part of a controversial decision from the top brass out of Jacksonville, FL. A week prior to this photo was taken, E. Hunter Harrison, and his appointed officials had made a radical decision to cut out helper service throughout the CSX system, to cut down cost, and to put more money back into the investor pocket. As a result to that move, the railroad would rely on the old practice of doubling the hill, or having a road freight wait on another train to have the power cut off, and get on the rear, and push the other guy up, and over the hill which was a true time cruncher. Well that idea had failed with flying colors here on the CSX Chattanooga Sub as a lot of trains would bottom neck on both sides of the Cumberland Plateau. Well rather than spending a total of 6+ hours on this master plan, The top brass had to make a wise choice to bring back the pusher service on the Chattanooga Sub, and other location that really need this type of practice.
