Don't let this struggle fool you. #40 is a fantastic puller. I worked at NH&I for 4 years in the early 2000s. On a Sunday in October of 2002, I was the "Trainman" on the Fall Foliage trip to Warminster. We had 2198 7087 in push pull with 1096, 1220, 1505, and 1202 as our consist. Both diesels were not in good health and we limped into Lahaska on our last legs. 40 was on the regular train with 1430, 1424, 1127, and 4907 as consist. We combined our trains for the run home. 40 struggled not a lick getting us up the hill to Lower Mountain road but put on a fantastic show. In my opinion, the finest performance of throttle and scoop I ever saw. 40's crew that day was Pete Bransky engineer and the late great William Sherrick as fireman. I remember Tommy Marion was on 2198 but I sadly cannot remember his brakeman. Good memories!!!

Excellent strategy from the engineer! There’s always a solution to problems as long as logic and patience are not overwhelmed by panic.

I worked in the Carpenter shop full time back in 2006-2007 and had a large hand in the rebuild of the 1st class car. I also spent some time in train service Firing #40. Best memories of my life. Glad she’s still running.

Engineer knew what he was doing. Long time experience!

I rode this train just two days earlier. What a great day outdoors! The train was beautiful, the crew was amazing and the service was great!

I worked in New Hope Pennsylvania in 1968 and part of 1969. As hard as it is to believe this steam train at least the engine and tender were stolen. I worked at Moorehead Chevrolet on route 202 just outside of town towards Lahaska. A mechanic named Nick came to work one morning and said to me, boss I thought I was late for work today. I said no you seem fine to me and he said well I sat straight up in bed when I heard the whistle for the train. The train started to run at 9 AM in the morning at that time and when he heard the whistle he presumed he was late for work. It was I think he said 2 AM in the morning. It’s reasonable to assume that a few of the younger people in the area who hung around the train station and the repair shop probably threw a couple shovels full of coal in the banked firebox, build up a little steam and started the train on its way. Now for those who know New Hope and that train track area you do know that it has to cross the east and westbound lanes of Route 202 and had flashing lights at the crossing, at least it did then. The train went a few miles down the track and then ran out of steam and that’s where they found it. What a wild town New Hope Pennsylvania was and probably is, I live in Western Pennsylvania now and I miss places like New Hope. My three year old son called the train the Hope Choo Choo. Edited for spelling error

The train was back on schedule, Sir Toppham hat was pleased.

One of the best railfan vids I've seen.

New Hope and Ivyland. Beautiful names

40 and her crew handed the wet grade very well! Also that was nice stalk talk as well!

Now that's an engineer who knows what he's doing.

40's a strong determined little consolidation. Keep in mind she's 1 month short from her 95th birthday. Good work from the crew too

Awesome! The sound and echo, then the whistle in the distance. Beautiful.

A skilful first attempt, but in the end a wise decision to go back down sanding, ready for a second attempt.

We were riding the train at Disney and it started raining. The train stopped at one of the depots on an uphill grade. It could not get moving again. After several attempts,it backed up and got a run on the hill, and was able to get up the hill.

This was a great watch! Thank you!

#40: "I think I can, I think i can..."

Great video! Thank you! 👏👏👏

Great video! Smart engineer. With running backwards, the locomotives pushing as well as pulling. With no reverse sandes, it was a very tough pull up that grade. Great work by the crew.

Excellent train crew. They got the job done. Thanks for sharing!👍

I believe sand can be applied to the track remotely from a reserve supply on the train. However not all conditions are right for this approach. The crew of the #40 did it on the second try. Great video.

Shays at Cass Scenic Railroad run water on the front wheels to cut down friction. They climb an 11% grade at one point. Third steepest rail line in the world.

"All it takes is determination and a little practice!" (Mrs. Mooley)

Maybe problem was the Engine was reversed and the sand went after the Drive Wheels instead of before. I don't know but glad she made the grade.

#40 sure is a nice looking little engine! Good job handling her and the train.

Great video well shot why doesn't railway have a rack and pinion to get up the gradient.

Nice work by the engineer,

Nice train in a wonderful landscape, great video, thank you! Best Regards from Germany, Railherbie

I sure like that whistle.

Lovely film - the sylvan setting, the locomotive, the train, the action. That is what steam railroading was all about.!

Well done by the Engine crew to get the train going and keep the schedule. The track in that area looks like it could use some love to smooth out the grade some.

This was a lot of fun. Lovely scenery!

Good running. As an engineer myself I’ll tell ya that when the sand is running low you have to get inventive and problem solve.

great thinking by the engineer!

As you can see in the first clip of 40 you can seen her wheels were slipping

Ooh yeah. I love the sound of a real bell banging down the rails. None of that e-bell stuff now!

Awesome Railfan video ! Great 🚂👍👍👍👍👍

Reminds me the time when this happened to 611 on a excursion in 2016.

Very cool! Great Video!

Fantastic video!

Love that whistle!

Good piece of railroad engineering. Next time boiler forward!

Experienced a similar situation in Md 2004 Cumberland excursion to Frostberg.. Overnite frost on the rails. They backed down.. Dropped off the cars and ran forward sanding the grade in to Frostberg then came back and picked up the cars.

Great video awesome work

Super film!

Its not just the rain...its the leaves

I think this is the train I was on. The 1:45 fall foliage train on the 25th. It was pretty great to hear 40 as she struggled up the grade and finally made it after reversing getting some speed to make it.

if they invested even a 1/2 day worth of labor on the track, the excitement could be avoided. I have seen less undulations in sand dunes.

very intresting! i remeber riding 425 from port clinton to jim thrope once and it kept wheel slipping due to wet rails from the rain storm, we were in port clinton for about 10 minutes behind schedule,it was the smae situation as this.

Love it.

Wow!

I tip my cap to the fine crew. 🧢

I live 10 minutes away from new hope

What is the gradient 1/60

They need some rail adhesion trains to prevent slip slide

That was awesome

Nice Video

Good idea to run back downgrade laying sand, increasing the adhesion to the rails.

Go , little Steamer , go ! :-)

Jim I can picture the same scenario going over Kladder Hill with Number 11 if the conditions are right

Hold my beer, watch this.

Ein Liebes Video toll gemacht weiterhin good Lucky Train 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃

This is how they delt with this like this.Because there were times an extra locomotives were not available. Some times they had to split the train in two scetions.

Cool

nice video

Looks like the leaves had already transitioned anyway.

Alright everyone off it's time to push

I think I can! I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!

This train has Cinderella's whistle and number 90s Bell.

awesome video.like

I'm just curious, that diesel powered train you meantioned in the video, is that a gurenteed connection

Great job guys no need for the diesel after all.

My only complaint is I wish the videographer had been in a better position to view the loco’s wheelslip. But, I understand the moment picks the artist. Otherwise, fantastic video!

Wow, how steep is the grade?

When was this filmed?

I suspect that this was not the engineer's first day on the job!

Im going on the spooky train ride today

So there was no sand on the first attempt. Where did the sand come from the second attack? Was it because the loco was turned around backwards?

6:50 40: I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can! #Imsocheezy

If it was the first day on the job for the engineer then he didn't want to look incompetent. If it was the last day before retirement he didn't want to go home with a failure hanging heavily on his conscience. Both ways good.

What’s the max gradient on this line

SAND SAND AND MORE SAND !!

i guess letting the passengers get out and push would spoil it.

LEt's vote for heritage railroads to push trains, too, and have cargo traffics, and be stronger.

time to set up a rail grinder and remove the slickness of the rails on the grades.. a nice non directional finish should be enough to increase traction .. those tracks also need to have the roadbed repaired.. so the drivers are not loading and unloading during the uphill.. counting out how many new ties are needed for the uphill grade areas and creating a donation box.. or a coin operated candy/gumball machine.. use candys not gumballs.. less under counter cleanups.. to collect new tie donations..

Maybe if all the passengers got out and pushed...

Why was engine in reverse

Why is the locomotive pulling backwards?

How come the engine is facing the other way? Did it not get a chance to turn around at a switch track. Also if the Engine was a 2-8-2 wouldn't the 2 trailing rear wheels perform better at grades. None the less great work by the crew and those are beautiful coaches.

If they run tender-first a lot, I wonder why they don't fit sanders acting on the rear drivers

Why wasn't it going faster from the beginning?

Who thought it was a good idea to remove the rear sand pipes?

So why didn't he just lay sand while shoving down from Lahaska? Seems like some time and effort could have been saved by doing so

SHOULD HAVE MADE EVERYBODY GET OUT AND PUSH

Just like in trouble with mud from Thomas and friends.

I’d have sent some kid out to throw sand at the wheels 😂

So why didn't they sand the rails in the first place instead of screwing around spinning out for 10 minutes? Makes no sense. If you know you are going to have a problem, take care of it right away

WHY is the engine on backwards? Facing forward, the sanders would work as designed!

why don't the passengers get out and push?

Why not just get down with a bag of sand and apply by hand / shovel. What we do in the UK on heritage lines