WP Diesels

[ericsp]

Those of you familiar with WP will know they only bought 4 axle diesels (or leased, whatever is the case). I am not sure of the maximum grade over Altamont Pass. Obviously, the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys are flat. I know that WPs passage over the Sierra Nevadas is not quite as steep as SPs. I noticed in SP 1989 timetime that the maximum grade between Weso, NV and Alazon, NV (which I believe is where SP and WP operated joint directional running) is 0.4. Although not too far out of Alazon there are 1.4% grades. Was WP able to run its trains relatively fast over most of the railroad?

[ericsp]

Thanks. Actually, this is the first time I have heard of the curvature myth.