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  The steep and steady grades out of Portland and Bangor, PA forced the railroad to run small trains.   Because of this the railroad was run as a relay For example, During the DL&W era Hill Yard was 2 tracks each with a cross over at the east end breaking them up into 4 tracks. Portland Hole Job built the first Bath Drill in the empty track in the morning. A crew would then run out light (locomotive and caboose only) from Shops to get it. The Portland Hole crew then built the second Bath Drill in the empty track later on in the shift. They then brought a train back to East Bangor or Shops when they came in with the cars for the other points on the branch.  t

 
The grade east bound from Belfast Junction to the Pen Argyl hill was steep enough that it got  doubled up all the time.  This occurred throughout the existence of the B&P.  Back in the days of  steam  the DL&W sometimes had to call a pusher to get trains from Belfast to Pen Argyl Jct when the cement traffic was heavy and the trains where big. Nazareth, PA. 

Operation notes courtesy of Bob Stafford

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