Re: curve and grading rules on the D&RGW and other Colorado NG

I don't know for sure, but not much more than 3% I would say. Remember, those ramps were built at the turn of the 20th Century so little 56 Class and 60 Class engines had to handle heavy cuts of coal gons up the ramps. Each loaded car approached 30 tons and a 60 Class (C-16) was only rated for 120 tons on a 3% which translates to four loaded cars. If the ramp is 4% you're looking at 79 tons and that means only two cars at a time. With the short flat spot at the top you can't really get a hard run on those ramps without running the risk of knee deep coal in the turntable pit at Durango!

Got her done! Ol' 1 degree curve, 5729, loading stock at Lizard Head on the RGS:




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2016 01:04AM by Herb Kelsey.