Southbound coal loads slowing to a stop, so the helper crew can shove them over the mountain. NOTE: The smoke in the background is from a forest fire on the Mountain.
Southbound loaded coal train apporches the grade at Chaska, while the chaska pusher moves into position to help push the train.
Hammerhead. A closeup study of a helper units business end. Some crews run a rope from the cab door to the knuckle release, allowing them to release on the fly after shoving coal drags over.
Mixed freight Q539 hustles by the waiting helper and old coaling tower at Chaska on the KD Sub. Coal and the occasional grain train are all that require a shove over the mountain.
N294 led by the "Spirit of the Clinchfield" pulls against the grade as it makes its way up Duff Mountain. The engines will stall in seconds and require the helper traveling under the tower to cont... (more)
As coal drag N226 approaches in the distance, the helper crew hurries aboard to go north on #2, then south from single to main #1 and hook up for the shove over Duff Mountain. A broken rail below ... (more)
On New Years Day, a CSX autorack passes the helper engine stored in the house track at the Chaska helper office. Work will be slow this holiday as most coal was shipped earlier in the week.
C212 is headed back to the housetrack at Chaska, it's work of pushing heavy coal drags over the mountain done for the day.
Q539 struggles under a heavy load to begin the ascent up the Duff Mountain grade as it passes the helper just parked on the engine siding. Special thanks on this shot go to my daughter Laurel.
A set of engines runs light to Knoxville to pick up mtys, then back to Corbin Yard and on to the SE Kentucky coalfields on this warm Fall day.
Oily, grimy veteran hauls a short SB mixed frt., no helper needed!
SB Chaska Helper with the "uncouple on the fly" device installed
Passing the old coaling tower at Chaska, TN on Duff Mtn. this SB coal train will soon get its helpers for the steep climb. 11/12/05
Q539.16 blasting past the old coal silo at Chaska, a holdover from the steam days. 350@f6.7.
Chaska helper facing north on #2 track, where they'll switch over to #1 and shove a passing coal drag over the mountain grade. The helper crew, on standby in the "shack", awaits their arrival.
