Acceptable grades

[Steamtrains]

I think most of us run into this problem if we want elevation changes in our layouts. "Prototypical" grades take an awful amount of track for any kind of reasonable change in elevation. So we compromise....
I'm using a 5.5% grade to get from my lower main level to the "El Diablo" mine. My solution...?? Use a "dedicated" engine for this run - my trusty Mantua 2-8-2, which, as they say, will pull nails out of plywood....