Good grief- 5% grade? Sounds more like a narrow gauge or cog railway spur! How are these units modified? I'm going to have to see this when I pick up my kid from U-Dub in a few weeks. Thanks!
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This is a fascinating operation to observe. It often occurs in the mid to late morning, during available lulls in traffic on the main line. Since the dock is on one side and the spur is on the other side of the line, the maneuver shuts down traffic while in progress, especially since some of the containers are double-width: when on one of the double tracks, they also obstruct the other track. The locomotives, I understand, have augmented ballast to provide better traction on the climb.
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Note the hanging container in the background !
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