The hill was thought up on the spot, while reading a Free-mo specification that said “We’ll write a spec for mainline grades as soon as someone actually wants to build one!” I took this as a challenge and had the necessary modules built within a week. There are two modules required, each one foot long; One is the vertical curve at the bottom of the hill, the other is the vertical curve at the crest. The hill itself is a series of relatively straight modules installed at a 2.3 degree angle, or a 4 percent grade.
Although the hill has been set up a couple of times before, its official roll-out was at the 2010 Mid-Atlantic Narrow Gauge Meet in Kimberton PA, where it received some notice. In photos of the meet it can be found leading up to the tunnel in the Mountain Module. The slope is quite noticeable when you are standing near it, but it is harder to capture in photos. I hope the drawing above makes it all quite clear.
Note: Careful testing has shown that the Bachmann Forney can uncouple even on a gentle 25’ vertical curve; Just one more thing that model can’t do. Maybe that engine should be run with extra long link and pin couplers? I am thinking of chopping off the aft frame of mine and hooking a tender to it. It will make a lovely little 2-4-0 just like the ones that ran on the original Peach Bottom Railway.