UP's Fresno, CA to West Colton, CA manifest train ( MFRWC) has stalled out at Tunnel #2 on Tehachapi Pass. After stopping at Caliente to let two northbound trains by, the 60 car long manifest train started to lose power effort from their 4th motor; UP 8150. As they struggle out of Tunnel #1, the conductor worked from the 4th motor, relaying information from the computer screens to the engineer on the headend.
Once they stalled at Tunnel #2, the crew was able to noticed that the 4th motor was not responding the same way as the rest of the motors in the train. When the engineer would give the train power, the 4th motor would not match the same throttle notch as the rest of the consist. This resulted in the crew, and UP Mechanical in Omaha, NE on the radio, coming to the conclusion that there was bad MU cable between the 3rd and 4th motor.
Once the rapid responder arrived with a new MU cable, the train was able to take off without a problem.
MFRWC 11
UP 6439 (GE AC4400CW)
UP 4086 (EMD SD70M)
UP 6891 (GE AC4400CW)
UP8150 (GE ES44AC)
4795 tons
3355 feet
31 loads
29 empties