How steep is too steep?

[djstrains]

 

[Snowman]

Well...on my proto-freelanced railroad the ruling grade on the east side--a fictional class one road--is 3.3%. It's also based on the real D&RGW standard gauge lines, and if you are familiar with them you'll know the ruling grade on the west side of Tennessee Pass is a "mere" 3%.

So am I trying to "one-up" my own favorite road? Actually no. I'm simply fabricating my own line to keep up with the (real)...Jonese's. In this case the (real) ruling grade on the AT&SF over Raton Pass. I don't have a definite answer even today--the strict definition of "Ruling Grade" is elusive--but the general answer I get about Raton is 3.3%.

So...helper territory certainly. Mid-train helpers (and this was back in 1910), certainly. Pushers...certainly. And that's on Tennessee. I'll presume the same is true for Raton (which is double track and sports twin tunnels at the top of the grades (in case you aren't familiar with it).

In my own case, just single track and one main range tunnel.

 

[trailrider]

On my road the ruling grade up Pi Hill is 3.14%, with 22" radius curves at each end! My Denver Zephyr has six passenger cars of various weights. Motive power is a E5A and E7B, both Proto2000, and they make it quite easily. My Mantua-based 2-10-4's have only the end drivers flanged, and can pull six heavily-loaded hoppers. (Any more and the train looks too long.)

 

[Rico]

Great video DJ!
Steepest grade I’ve ever been on was in Trail BC at just over 4%. (Hirail firetruck)
Rules say to have an empty car between every three or four loads for braking as I recall.
We had to lift the rail wheels slightly just to get more traction on the drive wheels due to wet rails!
On the layout I think I max out at 2.5% in spots.

 

[RhB Michael]

The RhB line on my layout is around 6.5% at the steepest. That is a little under the max prototype grade for the Arosa Bahn which is my small line.