This practice (orders) was also true on the C&S.
Helpers, for instance, in good weather ran ahead of the train from Boreas to Dickey.
The three helper crews usually had time to eat lunch, and the firemen could even bore their flues before arrival of the train. Boring flues on the C&S was always done during every trip, regardless of weather.
In bad weather, helpers were often coupled ahead to buck snow downgrade, sometimes with a flanger coupled in between. In these instances it was not uncommon to run two engines coupled ahead, and two engines on the train. This is how the train was being operated in January 1936 East of Boreas Pass when #73 & #75 turned over. Following the #73 and #75 was #537 on point, and road engine #74. Fortunately, the train was stopped before they encountered the damaged track from the wreck.