Chapter 171: The helper and tonnage
Twenty yards of the helper and tonnage
A second switcher works the far lead with its own cut. Either engine can move, changing engines is free, and the two have to hand cars to each other through the tracks.
The engine carries a tonnage rating. Loaded cars weigh more than empties, and the engine cannot move a cut heavier than its rating, so big pulls have to be broken up.
20 yards, pars from 5 to 18 moves. Beside its theme, chapter 171 draws on placard spacing, placards and auto racks, with two breathers of plain sorting and extra cars. Difficulty runs as a sawtooth: runs of easy yards, a spike, a breather.
The yards
| # | Yard | Par | The job |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yard 171.1 | 11 | Albany on 1, Dover on 2, Erie on 3, Concord on 4. Watch for a helper on the far lead, an engine rated for 270 tons. |
| 2 | Yard 171.2 | 6 | The outbound Albany, Albany, Erie, Albany on Track 1, Dover on 2, Boston on 3, Concord on 4. |
| 3 | Yard 171.3 | 8 | Erie on 1, Albany on 2, Boston on 3, Concord on 4. Watch for a helper on the far lead, an engine rated for 170 tons. |
| 4 | Yard 171.4 | 10 | Erie on 1, Boston on 2, Albany on 3, Dover on 4. |
| 5 | Yard 171.5 | 7 | Erie on 1, Dover on 2, Concord on 3, Boston on 4. Watch for a helper on the far lead, an engine rated for 230 tons. |
| 6 | Yard 171.6 | 6 | The outbound Boston, Concord, Boston, Concord on Track 1, Albany on 2, Erie on 3, Dover on 4. |
| 7 | Yard 171.7 | 7 | Dover on 1, Boston on 2, Albany on 3, Erie on 4. Watch for a helper on the far lead, an engine rated for 220 tons. |
| 8 | Yard 171.8 | 5 | The outbound Erie, Boston, Boston, Erie, Erie on Track 1, Albany on 2, Concord on 3, Dover on 4. |
| 9 | Yard 171.9 | 6 | Erie on 1, Albany on 2, Dover on 3, Boston on 4. Watch for a helper on the far lead, an engine rated for 130 tons. |
| 10 | Yard 171.10 | 5 | Dover on 1, Concord on 2, Albany on 3, Erie on 4. |
| 11 | Yard 171.11 | 6 | The outbound Erie, Erie, Boston, Boston, Erie on Track 1, Albany on 2, Concord on 3, Dover on 4. Watch for a helper on the far lead, an engine rated for 120 tons. |
| 12 | Yard 171.12 | 7 | The outbound Concord, Concord, Concord, Albany on Track 1, Erie on 2, Dover on 3, Boston on 4. |
| 13 | Yard 171.13 | 18* | The outbound Dover, Dover, Concord, Concord, Dover on Track 1, Erie on 2, Albany on 3, Boston on 4. Watch for a helper on the far lead, an engine rated for 200 tons. |
| 14 | Yard 171.14 | 9 | Dover on 1, Boston on 2, Erie on 3, Concord on 4. |
| 15 | Yard 171.15 | 13* | The outbound Erie, Boston, Boston, Boston, Erie on Track 1, Concord on 2, Albany on 3, Dover on 4. Watch for a helper on the far lead, an engine rated for 160 tons. |
| 16 | Yard 171.16 | 7 | The outbound Boston, Erie, Boston, Erie, Erie on Track 1, Albany on 2, Concord on 3, Dover on 4. |
| 17 | Yard 171.17 | 13* | Concord on 1, Erie on 2, Boston on 3, Albany on 4. Watch for a helper on the far lead, an engine rated for 250 tons. |
| 18 | Yard 171.18 | 8 | The outbound Boston, Erie, Erie, Erie, Erie on Track 1, Concord on 2, Albany on 3, Dover on 4. |
| 19 | Yard 171.19 | 13* | The outbound Albany, Albany, Concord, Concord on Track 1, Boston on 2, Dover on 3, Erie on 4. Watch for a helper on the far lead, an engine rated for 240 tons. |
| 20 | Yard 171.20 | 11* | The outbound Erie, Dover, Erie, Dover on Track 1, Boston on 2, Concord on 3, Albany on 4. Watch for a helper on the far lead, an engine rated for 310 tons. |
* A par marked with a star is the best known line for a yard too large to solve outright.
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