"Other" Mountain Rail Lines

[potlatcher]

I received my Trains e-mail newsletter this morning, and clicked on the link to participate in a survey of well known North America mountain rail lines.  Apparently there's an article coming up in the September issue on the subject, and the Trains staff wants to include some voting results showing which mountain lines are the most popular among readers.  Here's a link to the survey: http://apps.kalmbach.com/survey/default.aspx?sid=1690&auth=GxSPHGTZSi

Of course, I understand that the article can't possibly discuss every possible mountain pass with a rail line over it.  However, I still found the survey list somewhat limited.  Since none of the offered lines is one that I have spent any time visiting, I selected "Other".  I was hoping a new window would appear where I could at least type in which "other" line I do favor, but no dice.

It's the perogative of the article's author to determine which mountain lines he believes are the most popular and write about them.  And, I have no basis to dispute that the ones offered in the survey are the most popular for railfans across the continent.  But I think it would be wise for the Trains staff to at least hear which "other" lines also got votes, and possibly append that list to the published survey results.  In lieu of that, I'd like to hear from forum participants which "other" mountain railroads are their favorites.

My two favorites among active lines are BNSF's Stevens Pass line in Washington State, and UP's former DRGW route over Soldier Summit in Utah.  Among abandoned lines, I would select the Milwaukee Road's route through the Bitterroot Mountains in Montana and Idaho.

Let's hear your favorites!

Tom

[Bruce Kelly]

Also absent are Mullan Pass on MRL and Pengra Pass (aka Willamette Pass) on UP, two of the most highly-appreciated mountain grades among Western railfans. MRL in general rates as one of the top destinations for fans from the far fringes of the country, and beyond.

This survey is being conducted the same way as the "Best Railroad States" thing a few years ago. The premise when published will be that the readers have spoken and here are the results, when in fact only a small number of mostly Midwestern fans were contacted for this survey via email.

I predict that Edelstein Hill will win by an overwhelming number of write-in votes.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

What's makes a route a "mountain line" anyway ?  Total rise from base to summit ?  Steepness of grade, and/ or the ruling grade ?  Some unstated combination of the above ?  The difference from the approach line's grades ?  (Was UP's Sherman Hill in the list ?  The Oregon Short Line's route through the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon ?  The KCS's line south that was featured in Trains a few issues ago ?) 

Compare and contrast with those grades listed in Al Krug's tabulation of Major Railroad Grades at:  http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/grades.htm 

And what about the many "Mountain Grades" that were featured in the April 2004 "Special Collector's Issue" of Trains ?  I doubt if all or even most of them were included in that survey's list - see:

http://trc.trains.com/Train%20Magazine%20Index.aspx?articleId=64130&view=ViewIssue&issueId=5569 

  Next such survey I suppose wil be on the most popular steam locomotive . . . 

- Paul North. 

[tree68]

Indeed - I run on a line that includes 2% grades and 5.5 degree curves, following a river for a significant portion of the line.

It may not be as flashy as some of the other mountain lines, but it includes the highest point on the old New York Central Lines.

I'd imagine that if you could be magically teleported to one section of our line, you'd be convinced you were someplace other than New York state.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Kinda reminds me of the long climb to the top of a roller-coaster before the big drop - can't see over the top . . .  

Thanks for sharing that one !

- Paul North.