Re: Question for Earl on double heading

In 2001 when I was at the C&TS for my last hurrah, we did a 3 engine mixed train as part of the regular train operation. 463 was on the point followed by a cut of freight cars, with 497 and one of the 480's between the freight cars and the regular passenger consist. 497 had to get water at Cresco. We did the air hand off to him on the fly as 463 passed the tank I set about 7 lbs of automatic, blew the "hand off" whistle signal of 2 shorts and a long and cut out may brake valve. Back in the train 497, answered the whistle signal, cut his brake valve in, and released the brakes. 497's engineer now had control of the train and brought it into a landing at the tank. He then handed the air back to me on 463. After he got water away we went.

It went so slick, we did it again at Cumbres. While 497 got water, 463 and the freight cars cut off and ducked over into the south siding beyond the crossing. The second helper went into the north siding, 497 went east with the train. I there are pics of this train in Sam Fuyakawa's (sp?) book on the C&TS.