Prototype grade vs. HO scale grade

[JCasey]

The area I am modeling in Pennsylvania is notorious for having 6+% grade climbing out of the Wyoming Valley up into the Pocono Mountains. As a result, the prototype had to use multiple unit lash-ups with pushers. Everything I have read here says to keep the grade at 3% or less. If I use DCC with multiple lash-ups and pushers can I model a grade this steep or are there other problems I am not aware of?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, John

[rrinker]

Oh, you can make grades that steep on a model, but operation is going to be tricky, just like the real thing. Pu***oo hard, you'll pop cars off the track. If the pushers lag, the pull of the head end will stringline cars off the track on curves. If you do something like this, I would not make it your main line. It might be a fun challenge to operate, bu if you have to do it on EVERY trip around the layout, it iwllg et VERY old VERY fast.
If you're talking about the Wyoming Valley I expect you're doing Lehigh Valley RR? I was not aware of a grade that steep anywhere in the area, at least on a main line. On the inclined planes at Mauch Chunk (Jim Thorpe) and Mahanoy, yes.

--Randy

[JCasey]

Randy,

Thank you for your reply. Point well taken. That's why I asked the question, I figured there had to be other issues I wasn't considering.
Actually I am modeling the other end of the valley, Scranton, and the Erie Lackawanna RR. The climb out east to Mt. Pocono and Stroudsburg is very steep.
My grandfather worked on the old DL&W and my father worked for the EL for 35 years.

Thanks, John

[dehusman]

There was only one mainline grade that steep and it was on the PRR. The DLW and LV had steep grades, but anything in the 6% range was an incline where cars were winched up the grade and not hauled by steam engines.

Dave H.