Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

I was able to find a semi-decent overview of the Caliente hairpin. Trains reduce to about 10 MPH to negotiate this curve. When this grade was opened, the average locomotive was a 4-4-0 or 2-6-0, and this curve wasn't all that tight for them.

Too bad UP is carrying on the old SP tradition of filthy motive power. I'll hope for a BNSF next time.