? on rise and run

[thatboy37]

when you are trying to get the elevation. from the start point to the ending height what should be the distance from one to the other.

[Buckeye Riveter]

when you are trying to get the elevation. from the start point to the ending height what should be the distance from one to the other.

Reggie,

Let me see if I can help you, but not make it too complicated.  When a vehicle, be it a car or a train is going up or down a hill, we call that incline or decline a "grade".  Your trains can go up or down a grade, but if it too steep you can have a traction problems.  Toy trains work the same way.  They can go up and down grades, but if it is too steep problems can develop. 

Now the Toy Train folks use magnatraction and traction tires on the locomotives to help the situation, but still our trains still have their limits.

So................what grade can we use on our layouts?  I have always been told that a 3 percent grade is about the maximum we can us on a our trains. 

Using the 3 percent rule, let's assume you want a track to go over another track.  The clearence between the top track and the bottom track needs to be 6" so those big double stack cars of yours don't derail. 

So what we do is some simple math.

6" divided by 3 percent will give us the lenth of our grade from level (zero)  to six inches. 

Like this:  6" / .03  = 200"

So it would take 200" or about 16' 9"  of track to rise from level (zero) to 6". 

If you wanted a grade that wasn't as steep, say a 2 percent grade, it would be:

6" / .02 = 300" or 25' of track to rise from level to 6"

I hope this makes some sense to you.  

[thatboy37]

how far should the support blocks be spaced apart

[Buckeye Riveter]

If I remember correctly you are using Gargraves Track, so one about every 8-9 inches should work.

Also take a look a Scenic Express's riser system.  I used it and it worked great.