Nebraska's Mountain Crawford Hill With a ruling grade of 1.72%, when compensated, Crawford Hill is the steepest eastbound grade any coal train will encounter leaving the Powder River coal fields. The hill was once the home to the CB&Qs huge 2-6-6-2 Mallet locomotives, and has seen the use of manned helpers since the railroad was completed in 1889. At he height of coal boom it was not usual to find three sets of helpers working the grade at the same time. Today the railroad is not nearly as busy as it was two decades ago, with usually only one helper working the Pine Ridge Escarpment. On this gorgeous Fall day BNSF 8482 leads a coal train upgrade, with 2 DPUs & 2 manned helpers shoving on the rear....
