Four EMD SD40E locomotives pushing a loaded coal train up the hill pass through South Fork PA. The train is passing the now removed MP 265 PRR Pedestal signal, which was the last of its kind on th... (more)

A pair of SD40Es are about to plunge into tunnel at Gallitzen as they push on a long and heavy eastbound freight.

A helper set slowly drifts off the mountain and through Alto Interlocking in downtown Altoona. The PRR signal lights mounted on the signal bridge are the westbound home signals for the interlockin... (more)

To help trains traverse the steep grades between Altoona and Cresson, helper engines are added to the front and back ends of trains. Here is one such Railroad: Norfolk Southern
Locomotive: EMD SD40E
Location: Cresson, Pennsylvania, USA
Locomotive #: NS 6310
Train ID: Unknown
Photo Date: June 24, 2011

A very late NS L11 rolls west on the Fostoria District through Maple Grove, Ohio with a pair of former BN SD60M Triclops locomotives leading the way.

The helpers on loaded coal drag NS 590 push are to shove this 80 plus car coal train up to the summit.

A pair of SD40E helpers shove hard on the back of loaded coal train 862.

A set of helpers come out of the tunnels westbound on track 3.

A helper set gets ready to push on the rear of this heavy westbound past Alto in quite a snow squall. Thanks to Brad Morocco for the lighting set up.

Day in and day out, the SD40E's slog up and down the grades of the Alleghenies shoving heavy trains east and west. On this particular day, we see the 6310 assisting the 16N train east on track 1 ... (more)

A pair of SD40E's grind up grade on the back of a loaded Pennsylvania Power and Light coal train. To see the head end of the train check out Railroad: Norfolk Southern
Locomotive: EMD SD40E
Location: Mineral Point, Pennsylvania, USA
Locomotive #: NS 6310
Train ID: NS C9M
Photo Date: January 12, 2010

NS workers remove snow from the switches and derails in the vicinity of the Cresson Engine House as a westbound empty coke train passes with two helpers assisting the solo ES40DC...