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The text states "...eliminated the need for helper engines," but helpers are still cut into coal trains over Soldier Summit - see e.g. here at youtube. --User:Haraldmmueller 18:04, 22 September 2015 (UTC)[reply]
That depends on how one defines "helper engine", some people would consider those engines to be multiple units, not helpers. In the era of steam locomotives, helpers were specially built engines that would be added to the train at the bottom of the hill and removed as soon as the train cleared the hill, as they were designed for short bursts of power, not long distance runs. Chances are the "extra" locomotives in that video were, in fact, placed on the train when it was first assembled, and just switched off when not necessary. Some people would still count those as helpers, others would not. Still the spirit of the sentence in the article is true, once diesel engines replaced steam engines, placing helpers at the site of the grade was no longer necessary, (as again extra locomotives could be placed on the train when first assembled and switched off when not needed), and as a result, Soldier Summit ceased to exist as a town. I'll try to clarify a bit. Dave (talk) 16:26, 29 September 2015 (UTC)[reply]
