There used to be a map (maybe Trains magazine?) that showed the location and length and grade of the longest sustained railroad grades in North America. Anyone got an idea? As much as I love the Rio Grande, although it had steep climbs, they weren't all necessarily long. What are the longest climbs? Donner Pass? Kicking Horse Pass? Trains Mag has this eastern RR map: https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/maps/eastern-mainline-profiles/ And a map of the highest and steepest: https://www.trains.com/trn/railroad...teepest-grades-on-americas-classic-railroads/ Just for kicks, what are the longest grades? Feel free to list them. D&RGW, Pueblo-Palmer Lake, CO, 67.73 miles, grade reaches 1.42% D&RGW, Pueblo-Tennessee Pass, CO, 161.64 miles, grade reaches 1.47% D&RGW (narrow gauge) Alamosa-Cumbres Pass, CO, 78.89 miles, grade reaches 1.42%
A lot shorter at twenty two miles. Milwaukee Road's west slope of St. Paul Pass, Idaho mostly 1.7%. A good amount of 1.7% on the east side as well.
True about Saluda. Sadly, the nearby SOU line from Old Fort west to Asheville (aka "The Loops") which sports a 13 mile grade of 2.2% in places with seven tunnels, now handles only one local train each day. It's a beautifully scenic route and it's so sad, given that it was once busy until NS got the notion to instead run its trains north via the N&W and the decline of utility coal tonnage dealt the line a blow as well. It's all kind of depressing; I've railfanned Saluda and the Loops many times. Another regional coup de grâce took place some months back when the inactive 19 Mile branch from Hendersonville (on the Saluda line) to Pisgah Forest was enthusiastically torn out for a hiking trail. The local paper had long since pushed for this and was giddy with excitement, elevating the State Representative to sainthood that "provided funding" for the thing.
