Page 41: Zone 11: The Siskiyou Pass
Contents
Speed-Zone 12:
Down to the Rogue Valley
Steinman to Ashland
North of Steinman, the route stays steep and curvy, with a grade of 3.3% and many curves of 574 feet radius. Unlike the pass climb with its loops, the author considers this part of the track to be improvable, but the comparison of cost and effect does not yield a very good result, and puts this part very low on the list. Due to the grade and low freight speeds, superelevation is as limited as on the pass route, and passenger train speed will be 43 mph.
A CORP freight climbs up the grade from Ashland to Steinman
When entering the valley, the grade flattens to 2.2%, the curves get bigger, full superelevation can be used, and the trains would be able to speed up to 60 mph, for the last miles to Ashland. Unfortunately, there is a sharp reverse curve in the middle of the easy terrain. If any curve is worth to be straightened, it is this one.
At Belleview, a single curve would cause a slowdown from 60 to 47 mph.
The time is calculated without any alignment change.