Re: Helpers

I can see where orders make more sense when everything is extra. They make sense also for helpers out of Chama, Salida, and Sargants where there is one big hill with a helper station.
Where I get fuzzy is Ridgway to Rico, Como to Leadville, Como to Gunnison where there are a couple hills in a relatively short distance back when they ran a lot of trains with small power and (I think) with more timetable trains. Running the helpers as sections on the downhill portions(I guess with the lead engine carrying the trains identity) would seem to significantly reduce paperwork. Maybe that wasn't a factor.
All in all, it bogles my mind to think of managing the power in the days before the big engines, not to mention the dispatching ballet.