Stampede Helper Deployment: September 11, 1943

Allen B. Johnson, Dispatcher, to Austin Webster Ackley, Chief Dispatcher, Tacoma

For your consideration and recommendation to the proper authority I submit the following means of conserving power also using Z-3 engines to the best advantage during the present and probable future increase in business over the First Sub-division. At the present time we have eleven Z-3 engines in service, two Z-3 engines, 4009 and 4012, undergoing repairs. On the First Sub-division we have ten W-3 engines and one Class A engine (2601).

Under the new arrangement, power to be distributed as follows:

· At Easton five Z-3 engines to be used as helpers and road engines between Easton and Lester

o One W-3 engine to be used as helper engine or as road engine between Easton and Yakima if Z-6 power is not available.

· At Lester four Z-3 engines to be used as helper engines and road engines between Lester and Easton

o Two W-3 engines to be used as helper engines

· At Auburn seven Z-3 engines and engine 2601 to be used as road engines between Auburn and Lester

o Two Z-3 engines to be used as pusher engines Auburn to Lester

The manner of handling under this arrangement would be as follows:

· W-3 road engine Z-3 pusher 3,750 tons out of Auburn, both engines cut out at Lester, Z-3 engine return light to Auburn to help following trains.

· W-3 engine change off for a Z-3 engine on the westward train to handle train to Auburn, this Z-3 engine cutting off to remain at Lester in Mountain service.

· Westward trains handled by Z-6 or W-3 engine from Yakima cut out at Easton get a Z-3 engine to handle train to Lester, change for W-3 engine.

· In the event eastward trains delayed and W-3 engine not at Lester to change, one of the helper W-3 engines would be used and W-3 arriving Lester on delayed train inserted in helper service to balance.

· W-3 road engine and W-3 helper out of Auburn to be handled in the same manner as those handled by W-3 and Z-3.

· This will necessitate the holding of at least one Z-6 engine for service between Yakima and Easton exclusively in addition to the Z-6 power handling through trains Pasco to Easton.

[Handwritten note from Ackley]: Involves shortage of helper when a train is delayed for any reason at the [ ] will work when trains properly spaced.

SOURCE: Papers of Allen B. Johnson, Collection of James M. Fredrickson. Submitted by John Phillips III.