So I understand this is called Highland Summit, I have known it as Summit Cut all my life, even before I moved here 52 years ago, it was called summit cut because there was a cut thought this hill, and the elevation was the highest point on this line, therefore "Summit Cut"
@dalebarrett5712 Hey Dale! Yep, locally we all know it as Summit Cut. Highland Cut is the railroad name for it, and Aley Hill Road crossing is known as Highland Crossing by the railroad. Yes, it is the highest point on the Ft Wayne Line between Pittsburgh and Chicago. - Chad L
Great video and nice catch the cut is one of my favorite places to railfan since I went there back in August with conway and horseshoe curve and west homestead and there is a lot of different trains up the then on the pittsburgh line
I’ve caught that “NYKE” auto rack earlier this summer! That DPU sounded strange for some reason, very air thrushy sounding. There was a Burlington Northern rack right behind it, nice! Those articulated racks are pretty cool too. On the 2nd train I don’t think I’ve ever seen those style of flat cars before, looks like a mini bulkhead flat and it has mini uprights going down each side, not sure what they’d haul on those🤔. I didn’t think they had to put an EOTD on an end DPU, interesting. One last question, I was curious to know what percent grade this is and for how many miles it’s at the grade before cresting? This is obviously a spot that requires the right horsepower to tonnage combination. Sorry for the novel, have a great day👍🏼😎🇺🇸
I'm sure DPUs have helped in the second location (McKinley Road), but trains coming down hill here used to be still pulling hard, because they were still pulling cars over the top of the hill at Summit Cut. I remember that they used to have helpers on some trains (back in the 70s when I was a kid) The hill can't be that long, because it probably starts after New Galilee and ends at Summit Cut. (He calls it Highland Cut in this video, but I know it as Summit Cut) And then it's downhill towards Beaver Falls. Another aspect is that there is a big bend just south of New Galilee and another in Homewood. I don't know the grade, but it can't be insignificant for major two track main. 🙂
@stretchlimo7275 I'm not home to check my track charts, so going off memory, it's 1 - 1.5% for about 2 miles. As Jon said, the grade starts roughly east of New Galilee between SR 168 and HARLOW (Ashwood Road) and crests near the I-376 bridge just east of the cut. In that distance, it also has 3 compound curves on the grade including one at the summit.
@jonglass correct, as long as they are draped, they are still pulling hard! Typically, as they get to the (relatively) straight section just east of the curve at the Shenango/Aley Hill intersection, they are going into dynamic. And yes, Summit Cut is local name I grew up with whereas Highland Cut is the railroad name. Highland Crossing is the railroad name for Aley Hill crossing. The grade is significant and they still use helper service on coal loads. Most other trains use unmanned DPU engines.
@HistoricBF thanks for the explanation on the Highland v. Summit Cut/Crossing nomenclature. I'd always wondered about that but just wrote it off to local variance...
@@HistoricBF Thanks. I wondered if the name was an NS name... I wonder if PRR used to call it that too? And I am a bit surprised at the continued use of helpers. I think there used to be one stationed in Homewood. I remember them dead-heading back up the hill from McKinley road (and sometimes down to New Galilee to cross over and help push up)
Still love watching these train videos
@@JoyceLawson-c7i thank you, I'm glad you enjoy them!
Amazing shots! Love those hoppers & tankers!😊
That D&L boxcar was awesome!
Yeah I loved seeing that one, it was nice!
So I understand this is called Highland Summit, I have known it as Summit Cut all my life, even before I moved here 52 years ago, it was called summit cut because there was a cut thought this hill, and the elevation was the highest point on this line, therefore "Summit Cut"
@dalebarrett5712 Hey Dale! Yep, locally we all know it as Summit Cut. Highland Cut is the railroad name for it, and Aley Hill Road crossing is known as Highland Crossing by the railroad. Yes, it is the highest point on the Ft Wayne Line between Pittsburgh and Chicago. - Chad L
Cool location and great train footage.. liked that BN auto rack you snagged. Don’t see those very often.
@backalleyrailroading2835 love the fallen flags & pre merger paint schemes and always glad to get them! Thanks!
Great video and nice catch the cut is one of my favorite places to railfan since I went there back in August with conway and horseshoe curve and west homestead and there is a lot of different trains up the then on the pittsburgh line
It gets great traffic, for sure!
That was awesome I especially enjoyed the first catch though both where great
@@handicappedtraveler thanks, much appreciated!
Awesome video and enjoyed watching the scene. Have a wonderful rest of your Wednesday. Steve
@@StormySkyRailProductions thanks, you too!
@@HistoricBF you're very welcome and thank you very much also.
Looks like 4138 had a bit of the toaster oven thing at some point
I'm pretty sure GE has registered "scorched paint" as a trademark 😂
I’ve caught that “NYKE” auto rack earlier this summer! That DPU sounded strange for some reason, very air thrushy sounding. There was a Burlington Northern rack right behind it, nice! Those articulated racks are pretty cool too. On the 2nd train I don’t think I’ve ever seen those style of flat cars before, looks like a mini bulkhead flat and it has mini uprights going down each side, not sure what they’d haul on those🤔. I didn’t think they had to put an EOTD on an end DPU, interesting. One last question, I was curious to know what percent grade this is and for how many miles it’s at the grade before cresting? This is obviously a spot that requires the right horsepower to tonnage combination. Sorry for the novel, have a great day👍🏼😎🇺🇸
I'm sure DPUs have helped in the second location (McKinley Road), but trains coming down hill here used to be still pulling hard, because they were still pulling cars over the top of the hill at Summit Cut. I remember that they used to have helpers on some trains (back in the 70s when I was a kid) The hill can't be that long, because it probably starts after New Galilee and ends at Summit Cut. (He calls it Highland Cut in this video, but I know it as Summit Cut) And then it's downhill towards Beaver Falls. Another aspect is that there is a big bend just south of New Galilee and another in Homewood. I don't know the grade, but it can't be insignificant for major two track main. 🙂
@stretchlimo7275 I'm not home to check my track charts, so going off memory, it's 1 - 1.5% for about 2 miles. As Jon said, the grade starts roughly east of New Galilee between SR 168 and HARLOW (Ashwood Road) and crests near the I-376 bridge just east of the cut. In that distance, it also has 3 compound curves on the grade including one at the summit.
@jonglass correct, as long as they are draped, they are still pulling hard! Typically, as they get to the (relatively) straight section just east of the curve at the Shenango/Aley Hill intersection, they are going into dynamic. And yes, Summit Cut is local name I grew up with whereas Highland Cut is the railroad name. Highland Crossing is the railroad name for Aley Hill crossing. The grade is significant and they still use helper service on coal loads. Most other trains use unmanned DPU engines.
@HistoricBF thanks for the explanation on the Highland v. Summit Cut/Crossing nomenclature. I'd always wondered about that but just wrote it off to local variance...
@@HistoricBF Thanks. I wondered if the name was an NS name... I wonder if PRR used to call it that too? And I am a bit surprised at the continued use of helpers. I think there used to be one stationed in Homewood. I remember them dead-heading back up the hill from McKinley road (and sometimes down to New Galilee to cross over and help push up)