Cacole, thanks for the reply but I was able to remove one of the landscaping bricks and brought it down to a 9" climb in 25 ft so I think I'm closer to a 3% climb now.
That's quite a steep grade. My advice would be to try one 5-car articulated set, and then add a second if the locomotive can make it up the grade without wheel slipping; but one 5-car set is probably going to be all one SD40 can handle.
The rolling characteristics of your rolling stock is going to make a considerable difference in how many you can pull. With ball-bearing wheel sets (very expensive) you should be able to pull more than with the factory wheels.
I put ball bearing wheel sets onto some 1:20.3 stock cars and they put very little drag on an engine compared to a stock sideframe with simple friction axles.
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Will have a 25ft 4% grade on my RR when its done and will be buying a USA SD40 next week and wanted to know what it might be able to pull up the 4% grade. I plan on running a couple of 5 unit articulated cars.
Thanks,
JJ
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