Elevation profiles

Looking at Google Maps API for a different project, came across a demo map that lets you enter a route and then it will plot elevation along that route. The path between the two or more points can be direct (straight line) or along optimal road, bike, or walking paths (not rail). Since rail lines and road lines, especially highways, follow similar routes, this can be a handy thing for estimating the elevation profile (and thus locations of potential helper districts and other slope-based features) along a prototype or freelanced rail route. Here is a screenshot showing the elevation profile from Sacramento, CA, to Reno, NV, which goes through Donner Pass.