...my (USD)$0.02 worth...
8) The coal train of mention through Saluda, North Carolina, came out of Andover, VA. It delivered at the Allen, or Kenneth power generation station, for Duke Energy.
The train was standard with 97 aluminum gondolas, for a rotary dumper. The cars lite wt, was 41,000lb. The gross weight of each car, was 263,000lb. Capy was 222,000.
Standard motive power was 3 SD40's on the head end, and two in the middle, behind the radio receiver car, because SD40(-2)'s, will train-line the air together, where all the air compressors would supply air to the train. SD45's were also used re-rated 3200hp by the Southern Railway System.
A special key was used, kind of like the key used for a cold drink machine, to lock the dynamic brakes away from the emergency air brake, so that the train's dynamics would not cut out in an emergency application.
The number-boards on the lead engine, were white, with black numbers, always signifing the presence of Loco-Troll, the radio control unit. No other units needed to be so equipped.
The Road Foreman of Engines, was always on-board the lead unit, and inspected the head end units for proper performance, and drove the train whilst inside the cab. He road the engines to Melrose, at the safety track switch, to a section shack, where he called the dispatcher and verified that (Carolina & Northwestern Train #270) was safely over the grade. He then went back to Asheville, NC in a company crew bus.
30 of the loaded cars had the air brake retainers placed in the Slow Release position before ascending the grade through Saluda, to aid air brake control whilst descending the grade. (Normal position is Direct Release).