Highest points and steepest grades on America’s classic railroads

We map the steepest climb and highest summit on 56 historic American railroads

By Bill Metzger & David C. Lester

Published: December 20, 2012

Railroad names: Georgia Railroad, Great Northern, Gulf, Mobile & Ohio, Illinois Central, Kansas City Southern, Lehigh Valley, Louisville & Nashville, Maine Central, Milwaukee Road, Missouri Pacific, Missouri-Kansas-Texas, Monon, Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis, New Haven, New York Central, New York, Ontario & Western, Nickel Plate, Norfolk & Western, Northern Pacific, Pennsylvania, Reading, Rock Island, Rutland, Seaboard Air Line, Soo Line, Southern, Southern Pacific, Spokane, Portland & Seattle, St. Louis-San Francisco, Tennessee Central, Texas & Pacific, Union Pacific, Virginian, Wabash, Western Maryland, Western Pacific, Western Railway of Alabama