Improvised helpers on the Hill
As a Southern Pacific eastbound, powered by SP U33C 8771, U33C 8635, SD45T-2 9212 and SD45 8928, stalled while climbing over the Tehachapi Mountains when one of the train’s two U33Cs failed. A westbound SP freight, heading downgrade, stopped and cut out a pair of U33Cs (8606 and 8654) to aid this disabled train, adding these engines to the eastbound’s headend to get it to the summit in the town of Tehachapi. The train made an awfully nice racket as it assaulted the grade with three U33Cs, an SD45T-2 and an SD45 - even with one of the GEs not working! (Bealville, California – January 20, 1978)
