--- a/taskcluster/docs/how-tos.rst
+++ b/taskcluster/docs/how-tos.rst
@@ -27,27 +27,30 @@ more common changes to the task graph wi
     complexity when the transition is complete.
 
 Hacking Task Graphs
 -------------------
 
 The recommended process for changing task graphs is this:
 
 1. Find a recent decision task on the project or branch you are working on,
-   and download its ``parameters.yml`` from the Task Inspector.  This file
+   and download its ``parameters.yml`` from the Task Inspector or you can 
+   simply take note of the ``URL`` of the file or the ``task-id``.  This file
    contains all of the inputs to the task-graph generation process.  Its
    contents are simple enough if you would like to modify it, and it is
    documented in :doc:`parameters`.
 
 2. Run one of the ``mach taskgraph`` subcommands (see :doc:`taskgraph`) to
    generate a baseline against which to measure your changes.  For example:
 
    .. code-block:: none
 
        ./mach taskgraph tasks --json -p parameters.yml > old-tasks.json
+       ./mach taskgraph tasks --json -p url/to/parameters.yml > old-tasks.json
+       ./mach taskgraph tasks --json -p task-id=<task-id> > old-tasks.json
 
 3. Make your modifications under ``taskcluster/``.
 
 4. Run the same ``mach taskgraph`` command, sending the output to a new file,
    and use ``diff`` to compare the old and new files.  Make sure your changes
    have the desired effect and no undesirable side-effects.
 
 5. When you are satisfied with the changes, push them to try to ensure that the

--- a/taskcluster/taskgraph/parameters.py
+++ b/taskcluster/taskgraph/parameters.py
@@ -56,18 +56,34 @@ class Parameters(ReadOnlyDict):
         except KeyError:
             raise KeyError("taskgraph parameter {!r} not found".format(k))
 
 
 def load_parameters_file(options):
     """
     Load parameters from the --parameters option
     """
+    import urllib
+
+    url_prefix = "https://queue.taskcluster.net/v1/task/"
+    url_postfix = "/artifacts/public/parameters.yml"
+
     filename = options['parameters']
+
     if not filename:
         return Parameters()
-    with open(filename) as f:
-        if filename.endswith('.yml'):
-            return Parameters(**yaml.safe_load(f))
-        elif filename.endswith('.json'):
-            return Parameters(**json.load(f))
-        else:
-            raise TypeError("Parameters file `{}` is not JSON or YAML".format(filename))
+
+    try:
+        # reading parameters from a local parameters.yml file
+        f = open(filename)
+    except IOError:
+        # fetching parameters.yml using task task-id or supplied url
+        if filename.startswith("task-id="):
+            task_id = filename.split("=")[1]
+            filename = url_prefix + task_id + url_postfix
+        f = urllib.urlopen(filename)
+
+    if filename.endswith('.yml'):
+        return Parameters(**yaml.safe_load(f))
+    elif filename.endswith('.json'):
+        return Parameters(**json.load(f))
+    else:
+        raise TypeError("Parameters file `{}` is not JSON or YAML".format(filename))