And Now, The Rest of the Story on Those SD45s on a Mullan Pass Helper

Prologue: The dynamic duo of 346, and 355 are on a WB in Helena Yard last Wednesday, August 5. Train was either the LM, or maybe a Laurel-Pasco.

What got me off the couch last Saturday. Heard "3183" on the radio, and we just don't get GP50s on the MRL. Turned out to be a Loram Ballast Cleaner train. Plan was to beat up the hill for one more shot.

But that changed as soon as I saw the 45s on the rear of helper set at the East end of Austin, photo thru windshield.

The set heads down Seven Mile Creek Canyon towards Birdseye.

Gliding down thru Tobin, at this point the helper crew is calling Helena Yard for instructions. They are told to get on the back of a Q-Train at the Junction. Crew then mentions the fact that they have two unmanned units in the consist (the 45s.) Initial instructions are to come into town and drop off the 45s. This order gets belayed because the Q-Train is blocking Joslyn St. The remark is made that it wouldn't hurt taking the 45s  back up the hill. Cool!

The SD45s  are cut out, and the crew is in the 4304.

Crossing Head Lane

Shovin' up thru Tobin. Typical consist of the Q-Train these days is domestic stacks, auto racks, the a cut of fill.