CR Boston Line Helpers

[Ian MacMillan]

When you read everywhere that helper operations for Conrail on the Boston Line ended in 1985, its nice to see Carl Weber once again come up with some CR gold.

CR helpers on Bow coal train in 1993
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?200712041950053607.jpg

[cv_acr]

Did they normally have the headlight on for the rear engine? That looks awfully like the front of a train other than the slight cloud of snow kicked up in front of the pilot.

[Robbman]

Message deleted

[Dupesy]

the dimmed headlight serves as the rear marker.  A red or orange flag by day, or light at night, or a dimmed locomotive headlight can serve as a marker.

[Ian MacMillan]

Dimmed headlight was pretty much the standard out here, unlike markers on other parts of the CR system.

The front half can be seen here

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?200712041959443751.jpg

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think the markers were only necessary for ops on the NEC. But I guess they got used elsewhere too, cause they sure do look cooler than a dimmed headlight.

[Ian MacMillan]

I think the markers were only necessary for ops on the NEC. But I guess they got used elsewhere too, cause they sure do look cooler than a dimmed headlight.

Damn straight they do!