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What geographical area are you interested in and what size ore cars did you get? For practical HO purposes, I don't think you need to worry about your 3% grade being too steep for a 4 car train but you might lay out a few sections of flex track on a long board and put your loco to the test. In my area of New York State, there were a few busy iron mines using relatively light locomotives since the loads were generally traveling downhill.The Crown Point Iron Company used 2-6-0s primarily in the early days. I believe the Lake Champlain & Moriah used little 2-6-2 Mikados to bring ore down to the furnaces & ore dock. Breaking capabilities of the cars were more of a factor it seems than the size of the loco. They pulled 10 to 50 ton cars, often mixed in the same train as the smaller cars had better braking capability relative to capacity than the bigger 50 ton cars. The little locos pulled perhaps 7 or more loaded 50 tonners with 10 or so 10 ton "Jimmies" down the mountain sides. I know this to be true as I've seen photos of a runaway wreck of just this consist. Can't say I've seen any sign geared locos were used for hauling ore in these parts though they were the favorites of the loggers. I'd go with the Decapod, though even that might be overkill for your short train if you're using small-capacity ore cars. Send your Heisler up into the woods for logs and use that giant you have on order for your heavy freights over the mountains. Wayne
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