Hill Assistant Engines and Districts

[Blevins18]

Aside from Usui Pass, I am looking for other areas and grades where a hill helper is in use or has been in use. Any information is appreciated!

[bikkuri bahn]

Currently, Senohachi grade on the Sanyo Mainline, and the dd51 onion trains on the Sekihoku Line in Hokkaido (maybe).

 

*helper districts were more common in JNR days up to the 70's, when steam-hauled freights were numerous, and IIRC trains were restricted to 1000 tons on a one percent grade, any more called for assistance.

Edited December 10, 2013 by bikkuri bahn

[Sacto1985]

I believe on the Senohachi grade, the helper engines are coupled to the freight train at Hiroshima Station and de-coupled at Saijo Station. They were using EF67's for such a purpose, though they are being replaced by far more modern locoomotives lately.

[Blevins18]

I searched on Youtube this morning and found a lot of Senohachi Pass videos. 

 

 

[miyakoji]

That second video is interesting. The train is only about 1/4 loaded, but the helper is attached anyway. I guess every freight train just gets the assistance, whether it needs it or not?

[bikkuri bahn]

It could be something to do with the working diagram, leaving the loco at its start point may cause a conflict with following trains, especially on a busy line like this.  There may also be the issue of work rules- each crew has a work diagram of runs they will make that day- their pay may be based on it.

[westfalen]

The pushers are attached in Hiroshima freight yard just east of Hiroshima station.  The loco depot is adjacent to the westbound platform at Tenjingawa, the next station east of Hiroshima.  On the 30th November we caught new EF210-301 in the shed but no sooner had we walked back around to the eastbound platform than we caught the oldest unit, EF67-1 pushing a train out of the yard and later returning light down the hill through Muckainada staion so the old locos are still very much in use, for now at least.