With the now-common DPU equipped locomotives and trains, are there any manned helper districts on the system? I know there is at least one on the Power River Basin line, but are there any others? If so, from where to where do they run, and what locomotive type do they employ?
I was on vacation a few years ago out to Lincoln, NE, and Galeaburg, il. I was going to see friends from when I worked for BN. On the way back from NE, to the 'Burg, It was suggested that US 34 was more direct than I80. In Albia, IA they had helpers. I am told that this is now normal because 2 AC units can't make it up the Albia hill with the longer coal trains, due to DP.
The two tracks through Albia have different alignments. The south track is more gradual. In my time, the normal length trains could make it on the south track. I was assigned to helpers there on a couple of occasions. This was when the south track needed maintenance, and the loaded coal trains needed help up the north track.