Up the Gangplank
East of Buford, Wyoming, Union Pacific's original transcontinental line utilized a convenient, natural sloping ridge in the landscape to ascend the Continental Divide. This feature was known as "The Gangplank", and is still used by the modern UP in its ascent of Sherman Hill- one of the few places where route changes over the years have not taken the rails away from their original 1860s location. In evening light, a westbound intermodal cruises up the 'plank- though this is a relatively easy grade for a what is technically a mountain railway, the power still gets a workout on the hill here with today's extremely long PSR freights.
Up the Gangplank
East of Buford, Wyoming, Union Pacific's original transcontinental line utilized a convenient, natural sloping ridge in the landscape to ascend the Continental Divide. This feature was known as "The Gangplank", and is still used by the modern UP in its ascent of Sherman Hill- one of the few places where route changes over the years have not taken the rails away from their original 1860s location. In evening light, a westbound intermodal cruises up the 'plank- though this is a relatively easy grade for a what is technically a mountain railway, the power still gets a workout on the hill here with today's extremely long PSR freights.