Location: Helper, MI (Allegan County)

Helper is a location established in 1949, between New Richmond and East Saugatuck which has a 1.22 per cent ascending eastbound grade with a track curvature ranging up to 4 degrees, 42 minutes.

A helper engine is used to assist eastbound freight trains up this grade.

Notes

A handicap was that an EB train, having stopped for water, had to pull past new Richmond and stop again to allow the helper to leave the side track and couple on at the rar.

In that location, a train was close to the foot of the grade which increased the difficulty of getting a good start for the hill. This was a factor which limited train tonnage.

As part of improvements in 1949, a new spur track for the helper engine was built and named Helper. It was located 6,500 feet west of New Richmond, i.e. more than the maximum train length. Now an eastbound train can stop with the locomotive at the water tank at New Richmond and take water while the helper is being coupled at the rear, saving 10-5 minutes.

Time Line

1949. The Helper siding is established here. [RSE-1949-04]