Crawford Hill in northwestern Nebraska is a major railroad grade where the BNSF Railway climbs the Pine Ridge escarpment between Crawford and Belmont. First built in 1889 by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, the route required the Belmont Tunnel and steep, curving track, while helping make Crawford a regional transportation center. Its modern role expanded with Powder River Basin coal traffic after the late 1970s, when eastbound loaded trains made the climb a crucial but difficult gateway. Rebuilding in 1982 and later upgrades eased operations, yet the grade still demands multiple locomotives, frequent helper engines, and careful handling on a vital freight corridor.