RR Facts and Figures

Railroad Facts and Figures
Copyright AA Krug

Major Railroad Grades

Railroad Pass Name Grade Grade Location
ATCHISON, TOPEKA, & SANTA FE
Eddlestein Hill . WB 1.1% 9 miles Chilicothe-Edlestein, IL

Palmer? Hill EB 1.42% WB 1.42% Littleton-Palmer Lake-Colorado Spgs, CO

Raton Pass EB 3.3% 7 miles WB 2% 8 miles tunnel CO-NM border

. WB 3.5% 6 miles. (a short 4%)

Glorietta Pass EB 3.0% WB 1.7% SW of Raton, NM

Abo Canyon EB 1.25% WB 0.60%. Bypassing Raton & Glorietta on frt main the worst grade is at Abo Canyon

Arizona Divide EB 1.42% (long) WB 1.42% (long) between Needles, CA and Winslow, AZ

Cajon Pass EB 2.2% 22 miles MP56-78(ATSF MP) #1 track WB 1.6% 15 miles MP40-55(ATSF MP) East of Los Angeles, CA

EB 3.0% 6 miles MP56-62(ATSF MP) #2 track

Tehachapi EB 2.52% WB 2.34% far from summit spiral & tunnel SE of Bakersfield, CA

. WB 1.16% 8 miles near summit

Phoenix Sub EB 1.8% WB 1.5% 18 miles of 1.8% plus numerous long 1.5%. Flagstaff to Phoenix, AZ

BALTIMORE & OHIO Sand Patch Grade EB 1.52% (1.2% ruling) WB 1.94% (1.8% ruling) .

17 Mile Grade EB? WB 2.69% (2.0% ruling) 16 miles averaging 2% between Altamont & Piedmont west of Potomac, MD

BC RAIL Kelly Lake hill NB 2.2% 24 miles . Lillooet to Kelly Lake, BC

?? NB 2.2% SB 2.2% D'Arcey to Mons, BC. Multiple hills in 46 miles

CANADIAN NATIONAL Yellowhead Pass EB 0.70% WB 0.4%
17 miles x 2 West of Jasper, AB.
Trainlength 1% ~125km W of the pass

CANADIAN PACIFIC Crow's Nest Pass EB 1.75% WB 1.5%? West of Lethbridge, AB

Kicking Horse Pass EB 2.20% 13miles WB 1.00% Spiral tunnels-Yoho National Park west of Banff

Rogers Pass EB 2.0%? several miles west of the "new" Mt MacDonald tunnel which is 1% WB 1.0% through the "new" Mt MacDonald tunnel East of Revelstoke, BC

EB 2.2% on old line WB 2.2% on old line .

CHICAGO BURLINGTON and QUINCY Ulm Hill EB 1.25% WB 1.25% 30 miles east of Sheridan, WY

Sheridan hill EB 1.65% (1 mile) WB 1% begins at Sheridan, Wy yard

Parkman Hill EB 1.25% WB 1.25% 25 miles west of Sheridan, WY

Crawford Hill EB 1.55% . 40 miles west of Alliance NE

DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN Rollins Pass EB 2.0% WB 2.0% Moffat tunnel West of Denver, CO

Tennessee Pass EB 3.0% WB 1.42% West of Pueblo, CO

Soldier Summit EB 2.0% WB 2.4% SE of Salt Lake City, UT

Palmer? Hill EB 1.42% WB 1.42% Littleton-Palmer Lake-Colorado Spgs, CO

Tonopas EB 1.9% WB 2.2% Craig Branch

DULUTH, MISSABE, & IRON RANGE Proctor Hill . WB? 2.2% between W Duluth & Proctor, MN

GREAT NORTHERN Marias Pass EB 1.8% WB 1.2% short. Ruling grade 1.1%? Glacier Park, MT

Stevens Pass EB 2.2% WB 2.2% Cascade tunnel East of Seattle, WA

KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN Rich Mtn NB 1.5% SB 1.35% (long) .

MILWAUKEE ROAD Sixteen Mile Canyon EB 1.00% WB 1.40% between Harlowton and Three Forks, MT (closed)

Pipestone Pass EB 1.66% WB 2.0% East of Butte, MT (closed)

St Paul Pass EB 1.7% WB 1.7% tunnel MT-ID border (closed)

Beverly Hill EB 1.6% WB 2.2% 17 miles Saddle Mtns up out of Columbia River (closed)

Snoqualmie Pass EB 1.74% WB 0.7% Snoqualmie tunnel East of Seattle, WA (closed)

NEW YORK CENTRAL West Albany Hill . WB 1.56% for 1.75mi Short but at a junction. Albany, NY

NORTHERN PACIFIC Bozeman Hill EB 1.9% WB 1.8% Bozeman tunnel East of Bozeman, MT

Mullan Pass EB 1.4% WB 2.2% Mullan tunnel West of Helena, MT

Homestake Pass EB 2.2% WB 2.2% East of Butte, MT (closed)

Stampede Pass EB 2.2% WB 2.2% Stampede tunnel East of Seattle, WA

Evaro Hill EB 2.2% for 6 miles.
>1% for 13 miles WB 2.2% for 6 miles. >1.8% for 9 of 10 miles Alternate main between Missoula and Paradise, MT

Lookout Pass EB 4% WB 4% MT-ID border between St Regis and Wallace (closed)

NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC Ridge Hill EB 3.1% 11 miles from Redwood Valley WB 1.8% 6.5 miles from Willits .

PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD Horseshoe Curve EB WB 1.8% .

SOUTHERN RAILWAY Saluda Hill NB? 4.7% . .

SOUTHERN PACIFIC Moor Summit EB 1.4% WB 1.4% east of Wells, NV

Donner Pass EB 2.42% WB 1.91% between Sacremento, CA & Reno, NV

Siskiyou Line EB (NB) 3.3%, 19 mi. WB (SB) 3.3%, 17 mi. between Hornbrook and Ashland

EB (NB) 2.12% WB (SB) 2.28% between Grants Pass and Glendale

Shasta NB 2.1% SB 1.0% Dunsmuir, CA to Klamath Falls, OR

Cascade Crossing NB 0.8% SB 1.8% Eugene to Klamath Falls, OR

Tehachapi EB 2.52% 25 miles WB 2.34% 8 miles far from summit spiral & 17 tunnels SE of Bakersfield, CA

. WB 1.16% 8 miles near summit

Cuesta Grade EB 2.2% 6 miles from Santa Margarita (??are these length of grades or the location??) WB 2.2% 10 miles from San Luis Obispo .

Beaumont Hill EB 1.90% 18 miles WB 1.99% 27 miles Colton, CA to Yuma, AZ

Modoc Line EB (NB) 1.91% 18 miles (Karlo - Crest) WB (SB) 1.87% 16 miles (Likely - Sage Hen) Wendel to Alturas

EB (NB) 2.2% 7 miles (Canby - Ambrose) WB (SB) 1.0% 21 miles (Perez - Ambrose) Alturas to Klamath Falls

UNION PACIFIC Sherman Hill EB 0.82% Tks 1&2 24 miles MP541-565 (other grades of this mag on U.P. main) WB 0.82% Tks 3&4 45 miles MP510-554 (other grades of this mag on U.P. main) between Cheyenne & Laramie, WY

EB 1.75% Trk 3 7 miles MP549-556 (reaches 1.92% for 1/4 mile) WB 1.55% Tks 1&2 20 miles MP516-536

Weber Canyon EB 1.14% on EB main 25 miles MP928-953 (more 1.14 on #1 trk MP981-987) WB 0.82% 13 miles MP890-903 (approach to Altamont tunnel) East of Ogden, Wahsatch Mtns

EB 1.73% on WB main 6 miles MP930-936 (more 1.7 on #2 trk MP981-983) .

Cima Hill EB 2.2% 18 miles MP236-254 WB 1.0% 28 miles MP254-282 between LasVegas & Barstow

Cajon Pass EB 2.2% 22 miles MP56-78(ATSF MP) #1 track WB 1.6% 15 miles MP40-55(ATSF MP) between San Bernardino 7 Barstow, CA

EB 3.0% 6 miles MP56-62(ATSF MP) #2 track .

Encina Hill EB 1.5% 4 miles MP348-352 WB 2.2% 9 miles MP356-365 between LaGrande, OR & east

Blue Mtns EB 2.0% 13 miles MP258-271 WB 2.2% 10 miles MP271-281 West of La Grande, OR

Apex hill NB 1.5% SB 2.1% Butte MT line

Monida Pass NB 2.3% SB 1.1% Butte MT line

Deer Lodge Pass NB 1.3% SB 2.0% Butte MT line, Feeley

WESTERN PACIFIC Silver Zone Pass EB 1.00% 5 miles MP768-773 WB 1.00% 30 miles MP776-806 between Wells & Wendover, NV

Feather River EB 1.00% 109 miles MP210-319 WB 0.80% 16 miles MP342-358 east of the Feather Rvr Cyn and Portola between Sacremento, CA & Reno, NV

Altamont Pass EB 0.80% 11 miles MP45-56 WB 1.00% 14 miles MP57-71 between Oakland & Tracy, CA

Highline EB (NB) 2.20% 10 miles MP15-25 WB (SB) 1.62% 19 miles MP77-96 between Greenville and Lake Almanor, CA. Now BNSF

Any corrections or additions are welcome.
Because of the many grades in the 1% range please limit your additions to 1.2% or greater unless it is unusually long, famous, or otherwise special.

Major Railroad Grades
Railroad	Pass Name	Grade	Grade	Location
ATCHISON, TOPEKA, & SANTA FE
Eddlestein Hill	.	WB 1.1% 9 miles	Chilicothe-Edlestein, IL
Palmer? Hill	EB 1.42%	WB 1.42%	Littleton-Palmer Lake-Colorado Spgs, CO
Raton Pass	EB 3.3% 7 miles	WB 2% 8 miles	tunnel CO-NM border
.	WB 3.5% 6 miles. (a short 4%)
Glorietta Pass	EB 3.0%	WB 1.7%	SW of Raton, NM
Abo Canyon	EB 1.25%	WB 0.60%.	Bypassing Raton & Glorietta on frt main the worst grade is at Abo Canyon
Arizona Divide	EB 1.42% (long)	WB 1.42% (long)	between Needles, CA and Winslow, AZ
Cajon Pass	EB 2.2% 22 miles MP56-78(ATSF MP) #1 track	WB 1.6% 15 miles MP40-55(ATSF MP)	East of Los Angeles, CA
EB 3.0% 6 miles MP56-62(ATSF MP) #2 track
Tehachapi	EB 2.52%	WB 2.34% far from summit	spiral & tunnel SE of Bakersfield, CA
.	WB 1.16% 8 miles near summit
Phoenix Sub	EB 1.8%	WB 1.5%	18 miles of 1.8% plus numerous long 1.5%. Flagstaff to Phoenix, AZ
BALTIMORE & OHIO	Sand Patch Grade	EB 1.52% (1.2% ruling)	WB 1.94% (1.8% ruling)	.
17 Mile Grade	EB?	WB 2.69% (2.0% ruling)	16 miles averaging 2% between Altamont & Piedmont west of Potomac, MD
BC RAIL	Kelly Lake hill	NB 2.2% 24 miles	.	Lillooet to Kelly Lake, BC
??	NB 2.2%	SB 2.2%	D'Arcey to Mons, BC. Multiple hills in 46 miles
CANADIAN NATIONAL	Yellowhead Pass	EB 0.70%	WB 0.4% 17 miles x 2	West of Jasper, AB. Trainlength 1% ~125km W of the pass
CANADIAN PACIFIC	Crow's Nest Pass	EB 1.75%	WB 1.5%?	West of Lethbridge, AB
Kicking Horse Pass	EB 2.20% 13miles	WB 1.00%	Spiral tunnels-Yoho National Park west of Banff
Rogers Pass	EB 2.0%? several miles west of the "new" Mt MacDonald tunnel which is 1%	WB 1.0% through the "new" Mt MacDonald tunnel	East of Revelstoke, BC
EB 2.2% on old line	WB 2.2% on old line	.
CHICAGO BURLINGTON and QUINCY	Ulm Hill	EB 1.25%	WB 1.25%	30 miles east of Sheridan, WY
Sheridan hill	EB 1.65% (1 mile)	WB 1%	begins at Sheridan, Wy yard
Parkman Hill	EB 1.25%	WB 1.25%	25 miles west of Sheridan, WY
Crawford Hill	EB 1.55%	.	40 miles west of Alliance NE
DENVER & RIO GRANDE WESTERN	Rollins Pass	EB 2.0%	WB 2.0%	Moffat tunnel West of Denver, CO
Tennessee Pass	EB 3.0%	WB 1.42%	West of Pueblo, CO
Soldier Summit	EB 2.0%	WB 2.4%	SE of Salt Lake City, UT
Palmer? Hill	EB 1.42%	WB 1.42%	Littleton-Palmer Lake-Colorado Spgs, CO
Tonopas	EB 1.9%	WB 2.2%	Craig Branch
DULUTH, MISSABE, & IRON RANGE	Proctor Hill	.	WB? 2.2%	between W Duluth & Proctor, MN
GREAT NORTHERN	Marias Pass	EB 1.8%	WB 1.2% short. Ruling grade 1.1%?	Glacier Park, MT
Stevens Pass	EB 2.2%	WB 2.2%	Cascade tunnel East of Seattle, WA
KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN	Rich Mtn	NB 1.5%	SB 1.35% (long)	.
MILWAUKEE ROAD	Sixteen Mile Canyon	EB 1.00%	WB 1.40%	between Harlowton and Three Forks, MT (closed)
Pipestone Pass	EB 1.66%	WB 2.0%	East of Butte, MT (closed)
St Paul Pass	EB 1.7%	WB 1.7%	tunnel MT-ID border (closed)
Beverly Hill	EB 1.6%	WB 2.2% 17 miles	Saddle Mtns up out of Columbia River (closed)
Snoqualmie Pass	EB 1.74%	WB 0.7%	Snoqualmie tunnel East of Seattle, WA (closed)
NEW YORK CENTRAL	West Albany Hill	.	WB 1.56% for 1.75mi	Short but at a junction. Albany, NY
NORTHERN PACIFIC	Bozeman Hill	EB 1.9%	WB 1.8%	Bozeman tunnel East of Bozeman, MT
Mullan Pass	EB 1.4%	WB 2.2%	Mullan tunnel West of Helena, MT
Homestake Pass	EB 2.2%	WB 2.2%	East of Butte, MT (closed)
Stampede Pass	EB 2.2%	WB 2.2%	Stampede tunnel East of Seattle, WA
Evaro Hill	EB 2.2% for 6 miles. >1% for 13 miles	WB 2.2% for 6 miles. >1.8% for 9 of 10 miles	Alternate main between Missoula and Paradise, MT
Lookout Pass	EB 4%	WB 4%	MT-ID border between St Regis and Wallace (closed)
NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC	Ridge Hill	EB 3.1% 11 miles from Redwood Valley	WB 1.8% 6.5 miles from Willits	.
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD	Horseshoe Curve	EB	WB 1.8%	.
SOUTHERN RAILWAY	Saluda Hill	NB? 4.7%	.	.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC	Moor Summit	EB 1.4%	WB 1.4%	east of Wells, NV
Donner Pass	EB 2.42%	WB 1.91%	between Sacremento, CA & Reno, NV
Siskiyou Line	EB (NB) 3.3%, 19 mi.	WB (SB) 3.3%, 17 mi.	between Hornbrook and Ashland
EB (NB) 2.12%	WB (SB) 2.28%	between Grants Pass and Glendale
Shasta	NB 2.1%	SB 1.0%	Dunsmuir, CA to Klamath Falls, OR
Cascade Crossing	NB 0.8%	SB 1.8%	Eugene to Klamath Falls, OR
Tehachapi	EB 2.52% 25 miles	WB 2.34% 8 miles far from summit	spiral & 17 tunnels SE of Bakersfield, CA
.	WB 1.16% 8 miles near summit
Cuesta Grade	EB 2.2% 6 miles from Santa Margarita (??are these length of grades or the location??)	WB 2.2% 10 miles from San Luis Obispo	.
Beaumont Hill	EB 1.90% 18 miles	WB 1.99% 27 miles	Colton, CA to Yuma, AZ
Modoc Line	EB (NB) 1.91% 18 miles (Karlo - Crest)	WB (SB) 1.87% 16 miles (Likely - Sage Hen)	Wendel to Alturas
EB (NB) 2.2% 7 miles (Canby - Ambrose)	WB (SB) 1.0% 21 miles (Perez - Ambrose)	Alturas to Klamath Falls
UNION PACIFIC	Sherman Hill	EB 0.82% Tks 1&2 24 miles MP541-565 (other grades of this mag on U.P. main)	WB 0.82% Tks 3&4 45 miles MP510-554 (other grades of this mag on U.P. main)	between Cheyenne & Laramie, WY
EB 1.75% Trk 3 7 miles MP549-556 (reaches 1.92% for 1/4 mile)	WB 1.55% Tks 1&2 20 miles MP516-536
Weber Canyon	EB 1.14% on EB main 25 miles MP928-953 (more 1.14 on #1 trk MP981-987)	WB 0.82% 13 miles MP890-903 (approach to Altamont tunnel)	East of Ogden, Wahsatch Mtns
EB 1.73% on WB main 6 miles MP930-936 (more 1.7 on #2 trk MP981-983)	.
Cima Hill	EB 2.2% 18 miles MP236-254	WB 1.0% 28 miles MP254-282	between LasVegas & Barstow
Cajon Pass	EB 2.2% 22 miles MP56-78(ATSF MP) #1 track	WB 1.6% 15 miles MP40-55(ATSF MP)	between San Bernardino 7 Barstow, CA
EB 3.0% 6 miles MP56-62(ATSF MP) #2 track	.
Encina Hill	EB 1.5% 4 miles MP348-352	WB 2.2% 9 miles MP356-365	between LaGrande, OR & east
Blue Mtns	EB 2.0% 13 miles MP258-271	WB 2.2% 10 miles MP271-281	West of La Grande, OR
Apex hill	NB 1.5%	SB 2.1%	Butte MT line
Monida Pass	NB 2.3%	SB 1.1%	Butte MT line
Deer Lodge Pass	NB 1.3%	SB 2.0%	Butte MT line, Feeley
WESTERN PACIFIC	Silver Zone Pass	EB 1.00% 5 miles MP768-773	WB 1.00% 30 miles MP776-806	between Wells & Wendover, NV
Feather River	EB 1.00% 109 miles MP210-319	WB 0.80% 16 miles MP342-358 east of the Feather Rvr Cyn and Portola	between Sacremento, CA & Reno, NV
Altamont Pass	EB 0.80% 11 miles MP45-56	WB 1.00% 14 miles MP57-71	between Oakland & Tracy, CA
Highline	EB (NB) 2.20% 10 miles MP15-25	WB (SB) 1.62% 19 miles MP77-96	between Greenville and Lake Almanor, CA. Now BNSF

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Created 06-06-2001
Updated 03-01-2003