Who can tell me where the and who’s railway has the most severe grades and for how long (distance)?
Thanks[;)]
Norfolk Southern’s Saluda(N.C.) grade, which was mothballed about a year ago, was roughly 3.3%, with stretches up to 4.2%. Not sure how long the grade was, however.[8D]
There used to be (may even still be) about half mile of 5.5 or 6% between Ilfracombe and Barnstaple, in Devon (U.K.) on the Southern Railway.
Uintah Railway, Utah, 1900’s to the late 1930’s.
7 1/2 percent grades over Baxter Pass, many miles of 5 percent grade an almost no flat stretches.
Trains started out ot terminus at 2 percent then 4 then 5 then for a few miles at 7 the 7 1/2 percent, over Baxter Pass, then down 7 percent to 5 to 4 the to 2 then the end teminus. turn aound and do it all over again.
The line used many Shays, two 0-6-2t’s, some 2-8-0’s, and had the only two narrow gauge mallets in America, 2-6-6-2t Baldwins.
It also had several severe curves, two really severe ones, 60 degrees and 66 degrees. the 60" was also at a grade of 7 1/2 %.
I posted this question on another forum.The answer is in the USA its the Raton Pass line in Southern Colorado.The 4.9 % MadisonHill grade in Indiana is served by a shortline once in a while. Of course I could be wrong about Raton Pass.
Madison Hill is actually steeper, at 5.89%. PRR used to have two rather exotic SD7’s with special accessories (rail washer, dynamic brake, etc.) permanently assigned to this line. I was unaware that the track was still in place. How often is it used?
Perhaps either the Cheat River Grade or the Big Sandy may qualify.
Raton Pass I think is (I may be wrong) 3.5%
I would think Cajon Pass In stupidville (california)