Re: 478 & 473 double heading videos

The throttle on the 473 is just cracked open to lubricate the cylinders and do as little work as possible while the train is running out of Durango up to Hermosa. After that, especially with a 13+ car train, the road engine will do as much work as it can while the helper is controlling the speed of the train. The helper works a little harder to keep the speed up; the idea is you don't want the road engine shoving the helper, but at the same time, you don't want to outrun the road engine, you'll start to get moving. It takes knowledge of the railroad and listening and feeling the seat to make adjustments to the power you put on the drivers.

On a train with a K-36, the arrival time in Silverton is going to be later. Bridge restrictions prohibit engine weights of a K-36 with another locomotive to be double headed over the 15th St. bridge. A popular rumor that has gone around the past few years is that the city placed an ordinance or some sort of other influence on the railroad that no longer allowed double headed trains off the platform. That is not the case, and logistically it makes sense for a train to take water at Hermosa while the air test is being performed.