On Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:21:56 -0500, Marty wrote:

Aren't switching/shunting engines sometimes referred to a "mules", in
which case there's quite a few ships moves through the Panama Canals
with mules? ;-O

I have heard the Panama locos called mules. There are short bits of
track there that are at 100% grade, or 45 degrees. The locos only
climb them when not under load.

www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html

Casady