About a week and a half ago I caught the very same unit on the very same train but about 80 miles to the West of here.

A pan of a Dying Breed in action shoving hard against todays 20R. This is the last SD40-2 on the Pittsburgh Line Helper Pool still in Conrail Paint

An old veteran does it's duties of braking the 20R down Carney Hill, dodging in and out of the shadows caused by the low angle of this seasons sun. This location is perfect on summer days, but a ... (more)

Peeling paint and patches adorn one of the last Conrail blue SD40-2's helping 14G up and over the mountain and down the "slide". A winter storm has coated the surrounding landscape with snow and i... (more)

Over ten years after the Conrail split there is (thankfully) only one blue unit left in the Johnstown-Altoona helper pool. This fine specimen, patches, chipped paint and all, was built as Conrail ... (more)

A helper ahead today on 21M out of the Gallitzin tunnels. I beleive this is the only currently active Conrail blue SD40-2 left in the helper pool on the east / west slopes!... 21M... (more)

A pair of SD40-2's helpers aid in braking as NS 11K rolls downgrade through Ardara, PA.

An eastbound mixed frieght starts its way down the east slope on track two toward Altoona, the train can be seen strerched out through Bennington Curve in the distance.

NS coal train 500 approaches CP MO with a fresh coat of fallen snow and a light snow that continues to fall in Cresson. In addition to the two helpers up front, this train has four on the rear.

After helping their train over the East Slope, this helper set is along for the ride as they pass through Lilly, PA.

It's just after Midnight and the new day brings us double heading action at MO under a crystal clear starlit sky. 24M's East on Two track and M2G knocks down the signal on One track with the Littl... (more)

A helper holds back the rear of an eastbound coal train as it descends the East Slope. The train is approaching Millers Curve and the signals at MP 240.6.

Norfolk Southern's first heritage unit unveiled! I wish! NS 3347 backs into the 'special equipment' shed to pull out the 15-car OCS to tack onto the F units sitting in the yard.

The helpers on the rear end of an eastbound coal drag crest the top of the hill with the town of Gallitzin in the background.

The helpers' engineer rest his head as he awaits the departure of his train in South Fork, PA.