Is there anyone out there that ever worked the Central's "High Line" in Manhattan? I'm curious about the grade leading up onto it. It's a rather steep climb in such a short distance.
I don't quite understand this question. There are no steep grades on line haul trackage. There are short steep stretches of industrial leads. I think the Pennsy's into the overseas and bulk terminal mail facility known as the "Morgan Station" located south and west of GPO as well as the Central's around there are as steep as head end equipment regularly used anywhere- none of these are part of the line, as I understand the term. Phil Cavaleri has modelled this extensively,and can be found on the Railroad 'New York Central' section. He has chapter and verse of all the industrial trackage on the line.
http://www.oldnyc.com/highline/contents/highline.html The trains had to get up here in roughly two city blocks. Tell me that isn't steep! That isn't an ordinary climb unless I'm totally mistaken. I've walked onto it exactly where the trains came up from street level, on a very sharp turn also. If your friend knows the grade, please let us know!
The High Line was completed in 1934 by the New York Central to remove freight traffic from grade on West Street, 11th Avenue, and 10th Avenue south of about 40th street for about 4 miles. The line was considered an in-city switching yard for its entire length. There were spurs off the line into various industries, e.g. Armour, Swift, etc. As Johnny T said the line climbed from grade to about 30 feet in two city blocks. In mid-rown Manhattan, there are 20 avenue blocks to the mile, i.e. 264 feet to the block. To climb 30 feet in two blocks would require a 5.7% grade which is probably about what it really was. The Central used B+B triple-mode box-cab switchers to switch the line and also for street level switching. The switchers had 600 VDC traction motors powered from third-rail, batteries, or a diesel generator set. The mode was selected based on where the unit was operating. I hope this provides a little insight. There was a Railroad.net sight that posted the Central's brochure that described the Line in good detail. Unfortunately that site has been unavailable for some time now ... hopefully it will come back online soon.
I found a British(?) website that discusses the need and construction of the High Line from the perspective of someone living in New York City during the 1920's. The text puts an interesting spin on the traffic congestion problems of the day and the expectations of the line when completed. Mike's Railway History
