Inclines

[Anonymous]

I need to raise my track from level to 4 to 5 inches in four (4) feet is this going to be a problem? thanks for your help in advance Note: leaving a 18" curve raising up to go into a tunnel at the start of another 18" curve (which will be elevated) all of this in an 8" span.

[Sperandeo]

Hello "dbw,"

The math for this is:

4 feet = 48 inches, the length of the climb.
Then divide the rise by the length and the answer is the percent of the grade.
4 divided by 48 is .083, or 8.3 percent.
5 divided by 48 is .104, or 10.4 percent.

Either of those grades is too steep for anything but geared locomotives with very short trains. Try lengthening the climb to 8 feet (96 inches.) That gives a grade of 4.1 percent, still very steep but workable for short trains.

Good luck,

Andy

[Anonymous]

Rule of thumb is: at 2% grade on straight track you begin to have opperability problems.

Randy