Eastbound Grade Question - CZ Through Rockies

[5280 Guy]

Climbing out of Denver it's easy to see and feel the steep climb into the foothills. But leaving Glenwood Springs and heading to Denver it's a different story. It's not nearly as dramatic. It seems that it's a more gradual climb. Does anyone know where the steepest EB grade is on that route, and the percentage?

 

[Rasputin]

It seems to me that Trains Magazine a few years back published a map or drawings showing the steepest grades on Amtrak routes. Maybe it is included in one of their special issues on railroad maps. My recollection is a bit vague and hopefully someone will have more or better information.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

That's partially because it follows a "water level route," that being the route of the Grand River (oh, I mean Colorado River) from Grand Junction up through the mountains to Granby.

 

[Saddleshoes]

One is easily fooled about grade on the Western Slope of Colorado.
In that part of the state all the land around you slopes to the west. So one's frame of reference is also "tilted".
I suspect that the grade is petty much the same on both sides of the Moffet Tunnel.

 

[PRR 60]

The maximum grade on both sides of the tunnel is 2.00% (2 foot rise in 100 feet). The difference is that westbound the 2% grade extends from Layden to the east portal of the tunnel - about 37 miles. On the west side, the 2% grade extends from Fraser to the west portal - about 6 miles. The attached profile from the DR&W days provides all the details, and then some.

Note the west end of the profile is at "Orestod." Interesting (?) trivia: Orestod and, further west, Dotsero are points on the Moffat Line that are place names made up by the railroad. Orestod is Dotsero spelled backwards.

 

[5280 Guy]

Thanks, all. There is a lot of good stuff here - love that drawing. Going through Glenwood Canyon and father east we're following the river, but it feels like we're on somewhat flat land. I know that can't be the case. I get the feeling the units were working hard to get the train up to the tunnel even though it didn't seem like it.