Pan the Helper!
In March 1986, the engineer on a Modoc Line helper set gives me a friendly wave at Canby, California. This eastbound train is crossing Highway 299 just east of town.
When Southern Pacific ran big trains on the Modoc, helpers were used often. The helper would be put on the point of the train at Klamath Falls. It would be cut into the middle of the train somewhere in the Klamath Basin (Hatfield siding just south of the state line was the most common site) and accompany the train as far as Sage Hen summit.
At Sage Hen, the helper would be cut out, and it would normally return light to Klamath Falls.
Pan the Helper!
In March 1986, the engineer on a Modoc Line helper set gives me a friendly wave at Canby, California. This eastbound train is crossing Highway 299 just east of town.
When Southern Pacific ran big trains on the Modoc, helpers were used often. The helper would be put on the point of the train at Klamath Falls. It would be cut into the middle of the train somewhere in the Klamath Basin (Hatfield siding just south of the state line was the most common site) and accompany the train as far as Sage Hen summit.
At Sage Hen, the helper would be cut out, and it would normally return light to Klamath Falls.