Grades

[dukebasketballer`]

Hi,
I am curently in the design stages of the second phase of my layout[:D]. I like to run big diesels (dash-8 and sd-45) as well as my baby, a set of Warbonets with 5 aristo streamliners. What do you suggest be my maximum grade?
Thanks for the help[bow],
David
Let's Go Duke

[John Busby]

Hi dukebasketballplayer
1 in 64 or a rise of 3 inches in 16 feet don't ask what it is as a %
I have no idea
regards John

[DSchmitt]

1 in 64 is 1/64= 0.156 or 1.56%

[Puckdropper]

Generally speaking, railroads like grades of less than 2%. 4% is considered steep by many roads.

As DSchmitt pointed out, the percentage of grade is easy to find. It's simply the rise divided by run and multiplied by 100. (Or use the simple rough gauge of 1" in 100" = 1%, 2" in 100" = 2% etc)

[Greg Elmassian]

Most people try to keep to 2% max, but 3 or ever 4% is doable, you might have to run shorter trains or more engines.

Do be aware that the steeper grades put wear on gears and drivetrains much more quickly, especially if you are working a single loco hard.

For example, if you were running small steam, I would keep the grades to 2%, if you run big steam, doublehead, or multiple diesels, I would not be afraid to run 3% and up to 4.

Also be aware that curves on a grade "magnify" the effects of the grade.

Regards, Greg

[Chompers]

[:-^][:-^] I have a six percent grade, and my Bachman spectrum mogul and LGB mogul will climb it with 3-4 cars in tow. Whell now im told!!!

Not like im recomending 6% grades, but its doo able. the rest are 4% grades.

[vsmith]

Yeah Chompers but your young enough to claim youthful inexperience if you lose a train going downgrade..us old fogies can't use that excuse, we're suppose to know better[;)]

[Anonymous]

I have 4 % grades and i wish i didn't, but i had no choice, mix this with R3 curves and you need a locomotive with lots of traction; power is irrelevent if you don't have traction.

If you go to metric grades as a percentage are very easy measure your height in centimetres and divide by the distance im metres X 100 and Voila. grades in degrees is very similar, too small to worry garden railway people.

I have got over it by utilising powered tenders, makes all the difference.


Rgds Ian


Rgds ian

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Hey, ain't it nice to see Ian back from the lost, keeping us all on the straight and narrow?

I think we have a consensus on the amount of grade that is desireable, now there are a zillion ways to build them! What works best?

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Bob Johnson

Hey, ain't it nice to see Ian back from the lost, keeping us all on the straight and narrow?

I think we have a consensus on the amount of grade that is desireable, now there are a zillion ways to build them! What works best?

Bob,

The consensus is: 2% max for Mainline railroading, 4.5% for Narrow Gauge, 8% for geared Logging. [;)][:o)][}:)][:)][:)]

Or did I miss something??

As to building: cut and fill just like the prototype seems to work quite well.

[Puckdropper]

QUOTE:

I think we have a consensus on the amount of grade that is desireable, now there are a zillion ways to build them! What works best?

My method was simply to put the track on the ground... The grades just naturally formed. (I do intend to work on this to make it better, but when you've got 35 degrees and wet or snowy, it's hard to work the ground!)

[Capt Bob Johnson]

HJ,
Since my entire world is raised 28" from the surrounding yard, I have reversed that method to fill and cut!

[markperr]

A rule of thumb I was told long ago was that a piece of 1/4" plywood stuck under the end of a 2' level represents a 1% change in grade. If you stack 2, you get 2%, 3 is 3%, etc...

I did the math, and because 1/4" plywood is actually 7/32 thick, the grade actually comes out to 1.09%. Pretty close, as far as I'm concerned.

Mark

[Anonymous]

Mark any idea how much for a 4' level?

[Puckdropper]

TxPitmaster,

You're talking about twice as long, so that means you'll need twice as many pieces at the end of the level.

[Anonymous]

Gotcha 1/2" for 1% etc. Thank you very much!