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model railroad grades

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  • Member since
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  • From: along the B&O in INDIANA
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Posted by yellowducky on Thursday, May 13, 2004 5:31 PM
Isn't Lionel's 027 graduated trestle set, 8% ?
FDM TRAIN up a child in the way he should go...Proverbs22:6 Garrett, home of The Garrett Railroaders, and other crazy people. The 5 basic food groups are: candy, poptarts, chocolate, pie, and filled donuts !
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Posted by FJ and G on Thursday, May 13, 2004 1:38 PM
Grades are where speed control is nice.

Without speed control, it's also nice because you can challenge a hill and watch the drivers slipping.

dav
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 13, 2004 1:17 PM
Grades are where toy trains and traction tyres have a big advantage!
[8D]
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  • From: St Paul, MN
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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 11:32 AM
I take it from your name that you are from Minnesota, whereabouts? Twin Cities area?

Back to your question, 4% is about the maximum for any kind of standard train, real or model. 2% is much better and more realistic, and will give you good fun and challenge operating. I take it you know how to calculate grade percents, units rise per 100 units run.

N scale is generally discussed on the Model Railroader forum here, you passed it on your way in. Congrats on your first post anyway.[swg][#welcome]
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Posted by cnw1995 on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 9:57 AM
I inadvertently have grades (because of the gravel the layout in built upon). They actually add to the 'fun' of operating because, since I run conventionally, I have to adjust the power as the trains run up and down.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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Posted by FJ and G on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 9:01 AM
firefighter,

There's a Model Railroad forum in www.trains.com that has more N scale enthusiasts than here. I'd say 2 percent is a nice grade.

I'm currently debating whether or not to incorporate grades in my layout I'm planning for upstairs. It's a multishelf unit so grades would be a lot trickier if I don't want to make all the shelves have the same grade; might look funny too.

Has anyone else used grades in a multilevel layout? Esp. in the lower shelves?

dav
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model railroad grades
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 8:47 AM
Can someone tell me what percent of grade is good for N scale trains going up and down a hill or mountain and how do I figure that out. Thank You

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