Is this possible/what's it called?

[imphantum]

Okay, lets say a train stalls on a single track. But now there's a train behind it, and it can't go anywhere because of the stalled train. Now is this common, or not common at all, for the 2nd train that isn't stalled to drop it's freight into a siding, and then the lead engines to go and serve as rear end helpers for the stalled train and help the train up the grade?
Or would the train not even drop it's freight in a siding, and then just attach the lead engines which are still coupled to the freight, to the back of the stalled train, and help the stalled freight (acting as mid-train helpers) up the grade that way?
Or would this not happen at all, and the whole train would just go into a siding and helpers nearby from a yard or whatever come and help the stalled train up the grade?

[1225fan5358]

It really depends on how far out they are from the nearest helpers.

[imphantum]

Lets say Sherman Hill, track 3 between Hermosa and Cheyenne, but closer to Hermosa. Helpers could be in either Cheyenne or Laramie. But there is a freight in a siding about a mile behind the stalled train.

[1225fan5358]

Lets say Sherman Hill, track 3 between Hermosa and Cheyenne, but closer to Hermosa. Helpers could be in either Cheyenne or Laramie. But there is a freight in a siding about a mile behind the stalled train.

They'd send whatever they had laying around to shove it over the hill.

[donjgatlin]

It would most likely depend on how many trains are waiting. If one or two is waiting, it might not be as urgent to get the train over the hill. However, if there are numerous trains being held up for the stalled train, more than likely they are going to either send a locomotive from anywhere possible to assist the train over the grade. They do have many options to get it over the grade, though. They could cut the train in half, take the first cut over the grade and then go back to the second cut (if a siding is available). I don't think this happens as much as it use to now that we have computers that can calculate the weight of the train and assign the needed amount of locomotive horsepower for the route it will be traversing. Sometimes if power is short though, they might have to either cut the train in half or take the whole train over the grade and risk stalling.

[imphantum]

Ok I understand now, thanks for the info!