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(erielack) EL Leasers and Passenger Train Pushers

Paul I don't recall which Buffalo road it was that
complained about underperforming EL Geeps.
I want to say it was South Buffalo but you might
be right, it might have been Buffalo Creek. I'll
look for the article this week.

OT-Yes NYC used a pusher to get passenger trains
up the grade between Albany Union Station and
the West Albany shop area, a distance of two or
three miles. This was done in steam days to
prevent stalling, diesels were able to walk their
train right up the grade. (Sorry!) In later years
Central used U class 0-8-0s equipped with rods
that extended to the cab so they could safely
lift the uncoupling pin.

As for the story about the pusher being dragged
along when it was unable to uncouple, that is
based (so far as I know) on a caption in a photo
book. This was discussed by about a half dozen
former NYC employees in a Yahoo Group. They
said it was undoubtedly a myth. What clinched it
for me was an engineer stating that the man on
the head end knew when the pusher was supposed
to cut off and would feel it when the pusher did so.
Once they got to the top of the hill and the pusher
cut off, the throttle on that road engine was getting
yanked out. No way an engineer would do that
without KNOWING that pusher was cut off.

I think the only concession Central made to using
a pusher on the rear end of the varnish was to close
off observation cars' rear platform until West Albany
was reached. :>)

tommy meehan

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