Today's $0.02 worth is intended for the heavy haul "mountain warriors in the US" slugging it out on Clinchfield, Sand Patch, and Sherman Hill, who have not yet pulled freight in Germany. I understand your mental and bodily nerve centers, and all of your intuition and reflexes, are tuned to balancing the forces of momentum at around 8,000 tons ( 11k - 13k on Sherman). However, there is a route in Germany that is only only 853 tons, (not a misprint, eight hundred tons) with 10 cars, 232 meters long. Yep, tiny by comparison and it just might kick your butt. It has a lengthy sustained 2.5% down hill with a high speed limit right through heavily populated areas. The speed limit steadily decreases but the grade does not. The engine is not very powerful so in a sense you have all the same issues you would with the big stuff, except faster ! I mean, 2.5% sustained, Heck yeah. The return trip is kind of boring, (like going up Sand Patch when you forgot to turn on Distributed Comm) but hey, that's just me. You might like that one too. It has a few surprises that will keep you awake. Therandter Rampe, loco BR-185RP, Freiberg --> Dresden (85035) Unless you are going for your instrument rating, don't drive that loco at night because the headlights don't work.
