Brandon Thompson is intent on watching the slack as he crews the helper unit shoving on the back of the Hauler East.

Running a helper is a high skill position. Too little throttle and the train doesn't go anywhere (or can even stringline due to the helper acting like an anchor!). Too much throttle and you can scatter cars all over the place.

But helper crew is a really fun position. Today the helper is cut in behind the caboose. In theory, even though it's a steel frame caboose the helper should be in front of the hack.

Ahem....