Rochelle, Web camera. Helper/Banker locomotives

[Anonymous]

Watching the web camera at Rochelle this morning at 0640, 2 trains of UP operation, 1 going West freight with a single cab trailing locomotive on the rear of train. I loaded coal train going East, 2 locos on the point with a single loco on the rear cab leading.

Now my question is. Are the locos on the rear in Helper/Banker mode, locotrol operated? Is it standard practise now to have rear assisting locos in the area. I was lead to believe it is fairly flat running in these parts, rear end assisting locos only used in undulating/hilly country?

Thanks for the answer.

[David3]

They leave the DPU (helper units) on because they are likely to use them on the way back west or east again.
Dave