Years ago (late 1960s) when #10 was operating as Pleasure Island & Western RR #5 at Wakefield, Mass., there was a major grade on a curve which really tested the skills of both the engineman and the fireman. The last few years of the park's existance, they opened up at Christmas just like Edaville, with lots of colored lights, etc. Needless to say, the cold temps, ice, and snow, made running the line even more difficult, but the #5 never got stuck on the hill. Running clockwise made it easier, as the grade to the station in that direction was a lot longer and more gradual. But they didn't always run that way, for reasons unknown to me. The train consist was usually 4 or 5 open cars (Brrrrrr!).
Richard Symmes
