DateTime
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Author
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Posting
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01/05/2003 5:39
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Jim Fredrickson |
Tacoma, Washington
November 7th, 1944 CHIEF DISPATCHERS
MTN E MTN W Following from Mr.
Burgess, November 7th: "We are
instructed to use one Diesel road engine in helper service between Lester and
Easton, attempting to handle all freight train helps with this engine and
using crews in turn. These Diesel
helpers are to be placed in train ahead of caboose or cars of insufficient
strength to withstand the push of helper engine. There is to be no change in
method of handling air or retainers. Such trains having Diesel road and
helper engines should be able to maintain a 15 MPH speed and Road Foremen
will instruct as to operation of engs. Z-3 engines used in road service will
be given not to exceed 3500 tons so can be handled with one Diesel helper.
The two-Diesel trains should handled 4500 tons. Mr. Dunkerley will arrange for Road Foreman to be on hand to
instruct engineers and firemen, and Mr. Ackley will confer with Master
Mechanic and put the arrangement into effect as soon as Road Foremen are
available. The probable procedure
should be to change a Diesel for a Z-3 engine at Lester on Westward train and
insert that Diesel in helper service. Such engine will have made a trip
Auburn to Yakima and return to Lester and will have to be changed off with
another Diesel at a time when it has sufficient fuel to handle train to
Auburn. In exchanging one Diesel for another this will have to be done at
Easton by placing engine to be relieved on head end and using road engine as
helper. The question of fuel oil will
have to be watched closely and experience will develop how many helper trips
can be had before necessary to run engine to Auburn. Of course, helpers will
have to be run through between Lester and Easton as conditions necessitate.
There should be no objection to availing of Diesel to help a passenger train
when it may be spared from freight service and can be handled to advantage. It is desired that record be maintained of
helper service so can be determined to what extent diesel can serve all
freight trains." CA-268 A.W. Ackley Chief Dispatcher From Jim F. archives Footnote:
This was changed to place diesel helpers in middle of freight
trains. When the FT's were received
they had a minimum speed of 15 MPH which was quite a handicap. (Lugging down
lower was known as "running in the red" and could result in major
damage). They all went through a major overhaul at South Tacoma in the early
50's and this minimum speed was reduced to 9 MPH. FT, operations, freight
Compiler C Frissell |