Thanks for that information, Rich. I've wondered for a long time about the factors involved in UP's decision to close that line. The "rail creep" information is really interesting. I'd never heard of that before. I suppose the friction of the engines' wheels slowly turning and pulling on the rail as they travel up a steep grade with a load, would also have the effect of trying to pull the rail downhill, and be a contributing factor to the rail creep.
Apparently living up to the Rio Grande's old motto "Through the Rockies, not around them" didn't come cheap. Just thinking about the CN and CP maintaining their routes west of the Calgary area - what an expense that must be.
