: It didn't matter if the consist was fifty tankers or a hundred coal hoppers; the Half-Engine moved them as if they were made of silk.
If you see a hill coming, increase your throttle early while on the flat ground. If you wait until you are halfway up, you will lose momentum and stall [1].
The incline angle determines power requirements. For a heavy coal train climbing a 2% grade: Notch 4 provides sufficient power to maintain momentum without risking wheel slip; Notch 8 accelerates faster but requires careful ammeter monitoring to prevent slip.