Ted  Titcomb

Titcomb Bros. Mfg.
      508-833-1168

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Titcomb [mailto:pault@titcomb.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:11 PM
To: ted Titcomb
Subject: Sierras

Ted,

This is Uncle Paul over in Tracking. We've been doing some analysis on
the boys' route over the Sierras and I've attached the results. Our
concerns center on the area just east of Donner Pass, where Velma will
be seeing grades up to 6.8% before attaining an elevation of about
7000 feet at the pass. Weather conditions this morning at the pass are
fair: mid 60's with a good chance of passing thunderstorms.

Down the western slope, they've got a long descent into the Central
Valley, where they'll be dropping about 5000 feet over the next 30
miles. There'll be some grades in the 6's again and we do advise
caution in case of rain. I don't have to remind you of the importance
of frequent position updates from our onboard telemetry system, as
there is a crucial need to monitor engine performance on the big climb.

(Please advise the boys that there's mighty good train viewing around
Emigrant Gap and Yuba Pass.)

That's all for now...