On September 5, 2022, eastbound Norfolk Southern Train 6K4 (Union Pacific Ethanol Loads), led by NS EMD SD70ACU #7309 (former SD90MAC rebuilt from UP 3620 / 8142), stalled in the Highland Cut on the former Pennsylvania Railroad Ft Wayne Line (PRR FTW).

Although I did not hear the initial calls regarding the problem, it seems as though an issue on the Union Pacific foreign power locomotive #5690 resulted in a loss of power. It sounded like, once restarted, a crew member was manually holding a breaker to keep the engine online until after the head end crested the summit, but I cannot confirm that. Light rain conditions may have also contributed.

Highland Cut is the highest point on the Ft Wayne Line between Chicago and Pittsburgh, with the western approach being the steepest side as well as having several compound curves within a distance of only a few miles between New Galilee and The Cut.

In the past, Penn Central and Conrail ran manned helper service through this area on coal loads and other select trains though this practice has now been largely eliminated in favor of distributive power units, or DPU locomotives, in the middle or rear of the consist. This train had only two head end units with no DPU power added.

General Electric Wabtec AC44C6M engine #4379 & #4242 were dispatched to assist, under local symbol C80. After running Main 2 to release handbrakes on the tail, approximately 2 miles to the west, C80 traveled east to CP WOOD and crossed to Main 1 then ran back west to couple on the head end of 6K4.

Once coupled, and after safety checks were made, Conway Terminal gave a favorable signal at CP WOOD while all four engines were brought online and slowly throttled up to bring the loaded tanker cars over the crest of the hill before rolling down the eastern slope, through Highland Crossing, towards Homewood Junction and Conway Yard.

Finishing out the video are some 35mm black & white photographs that I took while testing a few different types of b&w film.

Music is Arlo Guthrie, City of New Orleans