I was there for that one as well. My understanding was that they stopped for the helpers, not because they were going to stall, but because they felt the crew might suffocate in the tunnel at the top of the grade before they got all the way through going so slow (could just be urban legend). Great show.

Speaking of big steam on a grade, the October 1976 trips with RDG 2102 from Wilkinsburg to Altoona and return over Horseshoe Curve were pretty spectacular. Even with a couple of SD's helping occasionally, the '02 put on quite a show. I was in a vestibule about the third car in the train on the Sunday trip audio recording Westbound (unfortunately audio cassette tape from that era didn't hold up very well long-term), and distinctly remember the tremendous amount of smoke and soot that came in going through the Gallitzin tunnels, even with the dutch doors totally closed.

At the strong urging of the RFE we did stop short of the tunnel to add the helpers to not take the chance of stalling and gasing the crew.

On the Sandpatch trips we gave her 100% of her tonnage rating and she did a great job although I can report that it got VERY warm going through the tunnel at the top.

Ross Rowland

Thank you Mr. Rowland for setting the record straight on that. I was kind of hoping you were watching this.

Gotta be UP 3985 with the 143-car double stack train in the early 1990's, from Cheyenne to North Platte.