Signaling a pusher grade

[Thai1On]

I'm curious to know how railroads signal pusher grades? Is the grade left clear of block signals so as to not the stop any trains trying to climb the grade? Or with pusher help the grade can be signaled as to run more trains over the hump?

On my road the company will have bought all 3 of the ex Erie's 2-8-8-8-2 to help shove the trains through the "cut in the hill" as it may be a short but heavy grade along with a few others.

 

[bl4882]

In my own experience, the Cuesta Grade on the Southern Pacific is and was helper territory, being a 2.2% up and down grade extending about 15 miles. It has passing sidings, is signalled, and in the days when traffic was heavy it was not unusual for trains to have to stop and wait to be passed or meet an oncoming train.

In assigning helper locomotives, consideration would be given to the amount of tractive effort and horsepower necessary to stop and start the train on the grade.

Bernie