Hillclimbing (railway) - Techniques To Overcome Steep Hills

Techniques To Overcome Steep Hills

Some of the techniques that can be used to overcome steep hills include:

dividing the load or splitting the train, which requires a siding at the summit.
attaching additional banking engine(s).
replacing the engine with a more powerful heavier engine for the duration of the steep grade.
strengthening the track on or approaching the steep grade, allowing higher speeds, and allowing the train a run at the gradient.
using two-in-one articulated locomotives such as the Fairlie, Garratt or Mallet locomotive.
using a Booster engine, though this is usually limited to starting the heavy train.
Zig Zags
Spirals
Horseshoe curves
Rack railway
Fell mountain railway system
Elevators, cable railways, or funicular railways driven by stationary engines (cable haulage up and down inclines).
Geared steam locomotives such as a Shay locomotive
Atmospheric railway
Cable car (railway)
Rail surface treatment
Compensation for curvature - the gradient is slightly eased on sharpest curves so that the tractive effort to pull the train is uniform.

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