Comments on: This was a relatively common site on CN – an empty grain train of 100 hoppers, with only one locomotive to get the train over the line. CN’s grades were not that significant, and they probably relied on the shop crews to keep their locomotives in fine working order.

By: Dave Brook

Dave Brook — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 20:34:13 +0000

Yes, that was solved by the mechanical departments operating philosophy known as optimism. When a unit broke, they were optimistic it would be on double track to not gum up the whole project. More often than not, they were wrong.

By: Steve Young

Steve Young — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 13:38:48 +0000

Engine reliability must have been a non-issue.

By: Dave Brook

Dave Brook — Sat, 24 Dec 2016 11:48:28 +0000

I did that from Jasper heading east with a single GP40-2. Track speed with no problems