mp55aec Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 We all know of the Lickey incline in the UK and several others in Europe Gotthard line etc but after watching many US DVDs like Donner Pass, Cascades etc im intrigued as to what is the steepest adhesion grade on a main line USA railroad? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pH Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Mainline grade? Generally considered to be Saluda. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 It has a Wikipedia page. Average gradient is 1 23.5 and the steepest bit is 1 in 20.4 Interesting to read, I've been trying to work out what the steepest grade I can get away with is, gradients don't selectively compress in the same way as distance and Saluda is steeper than I thought I could get away with for an industrial spur! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted July 9, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 9, 2014 I'm not certain but I think the Monarch Branch of the Denver and Rio Grande was 1 in 14. It was certainly very very steep and was originally narrow gauge but later converted to standard. It had two switchbacks that allowed it to acces a limestone quarry. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zunnan Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 As far as I can find, the Monarch branch maxed out at 4.5% for a short distance. Saluda went to 4.9% for a few hundred feet but averaged 4.2% or there abouts, and it had quite a nasty summit to crest before going down to boot where it was quite easy to split a train. Glad I saw it in action in its twilight years, and almost mind boggling watching them go over the crest under quite heavy throttle then notching back slowly as they headed downgrade. No doubt some of the logging branches would laugh at Saludas mere 4.9%, but they weren't exactly main lines. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LNRR Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 For many years, the Madison incline in Madison, Indiana was considered the steepest main line grade in the U.S with a grade of 5.89%. Currently not in service or operated by the Madison Railroad (CMPA), the track is still in place. Interesting reading about it here: http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/madison/Madison_Railroad_Incline_Cut.html. When the line was operated by the PRR/PC, they used SD-9's on the grade. Other information about this grade can be found on the Internet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigZ Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Saluda. Peaked at a bit over 5% for a few hundred feet. I've seen the grade as it comes thru Saluda, NC and it is incredibly steep. The Southern (and later Norfolk Southern) ran main line thru trains; very different traffic from the Madison grade. The thing that kept Saluda open as long as it stayed open was the coal traffic for Duke Power's Belmont power plant; the alternate route was 150 miles longer. But at the end the NS decided that the longer route was simply less expensive and much less of an operating nightmare than the Saluda operation. SD60s that were rated at 3500 trailing tons on other parts of the NS system were good for only 700 tons going up Saluda. A training video produced by the Southern Rwy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jamie92208 Posted July 10, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 10, 2014 There ws a comment in the latest Trains that a short line is trying to reopen part of the Saluda grade. I'll try and find the reference. Jamie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robatron86 Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Very interesting video. Gives a great insight into operations. Thank you for posting it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof Klyzlr Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 Cass W.Va, 9+%? http://www.cassrailroad.com/CASS%20TRACK%20GUIDE.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 They must have been taking loaded trains downhill only, thats getting to the point when even a light engine could slip to a stand! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I have some doubts about whether a downhill train would be able to stop on a 9% grade. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 The Cass railroad used geared locos (Shay/Heisler/Climax) that probabply had a top speed of 5-10 mph. The current 3.8 mile excursion to Whittaker is a 2 hour round trip and the 11.0 mile excursion to the summit is a 5 hour round trip. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigZ Posted July 11, 2014 Share Posted July 11, 2014 There ws a comment in the latest Trains that a short line is trying to reopen part of the Saluda grade. I'll try and find the reference. Jamie Norfolk Southern has sold about 90 miles of track out of Asheville NC to WATCO's Blue Ridge Railroad. It may include part of the line to Saluda; my geography out there is not great. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Norfolk Southern has sold about 90 miles of track out of Asheville NC to WATCO's Blue Ridge Railroad. It may include part of the line to Saluda; my geography out there is not great. Is that where the line winds around Brown’s Mountain? The source of many “UFO” reports! Or it was when I lived in Greensboro.... Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bigbee Line Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 I went to Saluda in 1994. Didn't see any trains but the transition from the tracks through the town onto the grade was stupendous. It just disappeared down the side of the hill. The safety track was also visited, again most impressive. Have a few pieces of coal from previous runaways. Mean to crush and sieve it for some HO coal cars. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.