let me be more specific with my observations regarding coasting drives. the engine is a car and locomotive shop steam locomotive built by Bo Rim precision with a coasting drive .on a grade of 3% the engine by itself will not roll down hill out of control. if you stop the engine on the hill it will remain in place. now put a train of 15 cars behind the engine and proceed down that hill. as each car go's over the top of the grade the cars start to push on the engine. the engine and train will start picking up speed faster and faster until it is an out of control runaway. at that point you as the engineer are in a panic!! the only way to avoid a pile up wreck is to quickly reverse the controller and slowly apply power until you can slow the train down and keep its speed in check. this type of operation is certainly not for the faint of heart. now take this same train and run it up the hill. if you stop the entire train on the grade and cut you power. the whole train will roll backwards down hill out of control. So there is not way that you can stop this train on the grade unless you apply just enough power to the motor to keep it place. but then apply power to the motor without the armature turning will most likely overheat the motor depending how long you keep it stalled on the hill. bottom line, coasting drives are just impractical especially when steep grades are involved.
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