"Physics" Question

Moving a car (or a locomotive) depends on what Hot water identified. I have heard that a roller bearing equipped locomotive could be moved by three men, but all bets were off on jointed rail. I also remember something in Trains mag, I believe, that the poster stated that the old B&O mallets were so bad re rolling resistance that the engineer had to work steam going downhill. After seeing the size of the front cylinders on those old compounds (i.e. real mallets), I can understand why.....

After the merger of NYC and PRR here in Erie, local switching was confined to the former PRR "OD" (Ore Dock) yard, which is NOT level. The NYC crews did not understand the standing PRR rule to set the handbrake on every car, until one rolled away......

I also received a call at GE one day from the OD yardmaster, who asked me to tell him exactly where the handbrake was on a new L&N U30. I couldn't.....It was not a wheel handbrake, it was a ratchet, but I could not tell him. The yardmaster way to solve this problem was to park each engine with one or two coupled cars, loaded, that did have regular handbrakes..... Needless to say, he was not happy.....

For a few years now the Allegany County Sheriffs Department has done a fund raiser for Special Olympics with a train pull utilizing 734 with teams pulling the engine at the Western Maryland Railroad Station. They have teams of 20 pullers and pull it over a given distance for time. 

With a 3 man boost to start, I've moved a locomotive sized boiler 25ft on Hillman rollers with my back to it, on very level concrete. At 5.55' 160lb.

 So yes I think it can be done..level or downhill at start. Momentum will determine uphill.

(For uphill with a small crew, raise an item in place, & build a down grade from water level under it )

the contact patch between the steel wheel and the rail is minuscule.