Nothing like the high-hood SD40s and SD45 in notch-8 heading out of Melrose! Boy does that bring back memories.

The thing I remember most is seeing them in Inman, and my grandmother telling me that the midtrain helpers were to help the trains get up and down the mountain. I have a series of photos from Landrum to Saluda on the Southern board at RailfanDOTnet. it's titled "A Sunday afternoon stroll"

Ronald G. Loving "Hobo Ron" passed away in the winter of 2017 of cancer. RIP Ron.....

dynamic braking, also called regenerative braking, has been around since the mid 1910's, of course not on diesels at that time. "dynamic braking" has been on diesels since the 1940's. Many GP-7's and -9's had them. These units clearly have them. It is the "blister" or buldge at the middle top of the long hood where the resisters and cooling fan are located. You are correct, this train is going upgrade with a high throttle setting (exhaust plumes pretty clearly show this). Middle unit is SD-45

Woof, look at that exhaust!

Good ol' TRAIN STRAIN up the grade! Love the sound! URR URR! :-D

Quality on the DVD is much better of course!

SALUDA GRADE, NEW DVD

Awesome! 5*****!

Original sound, made on a super 8 sound camera , my other clips are dubbed in sound, see the DVD on my web, read the "more" page

The track has not been removed from the hill, only cut at both ends so NS doesn't pay taxes on the line.If big gov would let the RR's have idle track without taxing it, there would be more lines still around!

alot of older high hoods have dynamics

Love to see those old Saluda pictures. However, it doesn't look promising to see NS reopen that line.

The line looks absolutely the same. The lights are covered, gates removed, and track cut. It's either a rumor or flat-out lie about it re-opening soon.

Since when? Those clearly have dynamics.

Is that original sound, or is it dubbed in?

What a death trap. The Saluda Pass was just too damn dangerous and hard on the equipment to keep open. The dynamic brake grids on the new locomotives would light up like a 220V toaster coming off that mountain.

Stop yelling!