How much grade?

[kyboy227]

Hello!

I am a "new" garden railroader...just starting to plan my garden railroad.  The location for my layout has some slope in places.  I am wondering how much grade can my 0-2-0 steam locomotive handle?

Any help on this matter will be greatly appreciated...

[altterrain]

Hi Ky,

Welcome to the forum. I'm guessing you meant a 0-4-0 (AristoCraft?) as an 0-2-0 would be pretty wobbly. I have an Aristo 0-4-0 and it will safely pull 3 cars up a 3% grade (3 inches for rise in 8 feet of run). Please feel fell to ask lots of questions. 

-Brian 

[gbbari]

Maybe it's a steam-powered Segue 

[ttrigg]

  I am wondering how much grade can my 0-2-0 steam locomotive handle?

I too am going to assume you meant an 0-4-0, just a small "spelling error."  I'm going to give you a rather vague answer, the long answer.  If you will never have a large GRR (less than 8ft x 10ft) then you can handle 4 ft diameters and 3% grades with the little guy and 2 or 3 cars.  If on the off chance there is the possibility of expansion (just like every other hobby GRR will grow to fill all available space, and has been known to even sneak into "unauthorized" spaces) keep the curves to at least 8 ft diameters and the grades on the mainline to less than 2% (prefer 1%).  Branch lines can break all the rules.  I have a trolley line going up to the top of the waterfall on the Koi pond that is somewhere in the area of 10%~12%.  My street car will do the trip but complains severely, my 0-4-0 will make the trip backing up pushing one of the short cars that came in the starter kit.  When I built this line I have the intention of installing a rack system (cog line) in the not too distant future.

[kstrong]

The general "rule" is to try to keep grades to under 4%. Much more than that, and you really start to limit the trains you can run, and really add to the stresses put on the gears, etc. Going down the grade can be hard on them, too, so it's not just the "up" trip to worry about. The weight of the train pushing against the locomotive introduces different stresses which sometimes cause the motor to stutter. This--generally speaking--is not a good thing, and depending on the severity can be harder on a locomotive than pulling uphill. Not all locos are subject to this, but it does happen often enough to be of concern.

BTW "0-2-0" isn't a typo, it's European. Books I've read show European locos identified by axles, not wheels. Don't know if that's purely a continental Europe thing, or if the Brits do that also.

Later,

K

[kyboy227]

Hello, everyone!

 Thanks for the comments and suggestions....and, YES, it was a typo.  The engine is an 0-4-0 from an LGB started set. (you may find many typos in my letters....sorry 'bout that!)  I am, however, thankful that all of you were able to read through the typo and give advice.

 Someone commented on the available space.  I have an area that is 22' x 14' that is already a flower garden.  My wife suggested I put the railroad there....I not gonna pass up that opportunity!

 Again, thanks for the info and comments.

 

 

[altterrain]

Hey Ky,

I am going to suggest an English forum website to you called "G scale mad" (http://www.gscalemad.co.uk/forum/index.php?act=idx). Most of the members there have small layouts running small locomotives (unlike most layouts featured in GR). Many have the LGB 0-4-0 Stainz locomotives and I have seen some neat kitbashes of them over there. I picked up a similar LGB set for my nephew last year. Have fun.

-Brian 

[cabbage]

Kevin,

Generally when speaking of steam locomotives most UK "trainspotters" refer to them via the Whyte system viz: 0-4-0.

However when refering to Diesel or Electric locomotives the UIC system is used viz B0-B0.

The Penn. GG1 would be referred to here as : 2-C0-C0-2. My own Heilmann loco is called "The Hooded Swan" because it is: D0-D0.

The only problem with this when you are researching steam locomotives of the "Southern Railway" company -who would insist on using the French system...

Thus a "Pacific" becomes 2-6-4 or 1C2 depending on when it was built(!)

regards

ralph

[kstrong]

Ralph, thanks much. Over here, a Pacific is a 4-6-2. Does the French ID imply that they read things from rear to front? Or was that a typo?

Later,

K

[ttrigg]

Wait!  Stop!  Hold It!
Let me get off the train!

I thought it was bad enough to try to explain "G Scale"!  Now you bring up multiple methods of describing an engine.

Think I'll just skip school when that lesson comes up again!

[cabbage]

Kevin,

The French system works from firebox to the smoke box, this includes cab forwards....

regards

ralph