![Helpers on the Hill [Union Pacific manned helpers in the Oregon Cascades] @7ideaproductions](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m3WhZDu1WJU/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In an age of remote-controlled "distributed power," locomotives, Union Pacific brought back manned helpers to the Cascade Subdivision above Oakridge, Oregon between late 2018 and 2023. Two helper sets based in Oakridge would assist heavy southbound trains for California up the grueling 1.8% grade over Pengra Pass. We captured video of the operation in the spring of 2022.
In an age of remote-controlled "distributed power," locomotives, Union Pacific brought back manned helpers to the Cascade Subdivision above Oakridge, Oregon between late 2018 and 2023. Two helper sets based in Oakridge would assist heavy southbound trains for California up the grueling 1.8% grade over Pengra Pass. We captured video of the operation in the spring of 2022.
![Helpers on the Hill [Union Pacific manned helpers in the Oregon Cascades]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/m3WhZDu1WJU/mqdefault.jpg "Helpers on the Hill [Union Pacific manned helpers in the Oregon Cascades]
In an age of remote-controlled distributed power, locomotives, Union Pacific brought back manned helpers to the Cascade Subdivision above Oakridge, Oregon between late 2018 and 2023. Two helper sets based in Oakridge would assist heavy southbound trains for California up the grueling 1.8% grade over Pengra Pass. We captured video of the operation in the spring of 2022.")
