grades for lionel trains

[jerryl]

 I model in HO & G (20.3) but  I am  helping my friend design an elevated outdoor RR for his Lionel collection.  What is an acceptable grade for Lionel engines & what companies produce stainless steel track in O gauge & is it flex track.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.  Jerry

[Roger Bielen]

 As a rule of thumb, a 1/4" per 10" (or 1 ft.) is considered a max. for O-gauge.  

As for stainless track, Gargraves is the only source I'm familiar with.  I don't knopw if their fles is available in stainless.  Atlas's nickle alloy can also be used outdoors if I remember correctly.                         

[lionelsoni]

I would put the conventional wisdom higher, at 4 percent rather than 2.5 percent.  It depends a lot on what you're running of course.  Locomotive weight, traction tires, and Magnetraction can all help to get trains up steep grades.  Ironically, using stainless-steel or non-ferrous track to accommodate the outdoor location will nullify Magnetraction.

[Anonymous]

I would put the conventional wisdom higher, at 4 percent rather than 2.5 percent.

I know I'm new, but I have to agree here.  I was doing the math on the other .25"/10" ratio and that seemed like an awfully long grade; if my math is correct a 7" high grade would require 23 feet of gradient.  That seems like an awful lot, 12' to 13' seems a lot more reasonable, but then if you're outdoors then most like 23' isn't that big of a deal.  I'm just used to squeezing as much on a layout as I can.

[Anonymous]

What is an acceptable grade for Lionel

I give them an A+.  I love Lionel!

[Anonymous]

What is an acceptable grade for Lionel

I give them an A+.  I love Lionel!

Oy vey!  There's one in every group, and in this case many.

[jefelectric]

Jerry,

I agree with Bob on the grades.  You might want to check with Gargraves before using it outdoors.  I don't think the wood ties would hold up outdoors and the plastic may not be UV resistant.  Atlas says that their nickel silver track has UV resistant plastic ties.

[Reading T-1]

    John

     I see on your web sight you use mth track? and then switch to atlas track. How do you like your atlas switches?

[jerryl]

Thanks for the help...altho there seems to be a dissagreement as to the allowable grade.   We'll probably have to do some experimenting first. 

  Also, if anyone has had any experience with outdoor Lionel layouts, I'd like to hear from you. Thanks