Ticket To Ride

Freight Train Composition 101

What the railroad engineers didn’t have to do to keep the grade acceptable while laying out the track right-of ways.

If your not familiar with what it takes to keep all the rail cars in this very long train from derailing while negotiating all the bends in the track, its a very interesting read as to how the cars are strategically placed when the train is assembled.
Today computer software determines the placing to keep what is referred to as “string-lining" from happening, where rail cars are derailed due to wrong placement of light and heavy cars in the string.

Not visible in this photo is the trestle that spans Kneehill creek in the coulee bottom just visible in this photo, and then the grade needing to be climbed on the other side leading towards Swalwell AB.

Here's a look at the trestle spanning the coulee with Kneehill creek.....
https://www.jerryclement.ca/Outdoor-Pursuits/DawnThreader/i-Z93gPSS

Expand the photo for a closer look....

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