Big Grade

[joecool1212]

Trying to make my track on my layout climb a steep grade to get up to a around the wall shelf area. Want to have alot of engines pull cars up without going crazy. Can't do it in less than 12% 6 engines to pull 14 cars up on a 12 ft stright track. It seems to work. But have to make 2 36'' radius turns. Anyone try this. Any suggestions. Have a nice helper district at the bottom for tacking on more power. Have'nt even thought about getting them down yet. Joe A[8D]

[SteelMonsters]

Sorry to rain on your idea, but your locos probably won't be able to make it up the grade by themselves let alone pull cars up it. Test it out with a couple pieces of flex track mounted on a board and see what they can pull at what grades. Also the turns will add rolling resistance so it's advisable to make the grade somewhat less at that point.

Most people find even 6% is too much. There is a fine line between fun and tedious.

[wp8thsub]

A 12% grade is far in excess of what most prototype railroads would attempt, and you'll find out why when you try to run anything up that hill. The only real railroads that would try a grade that steep are mining or logging roads using geared engines like shays, or mountainside rack railroads. Assuming you might want to represent a logging/mining road, you could get a model shay, heisler or climax to pull a few cars, but only a few, up a 12% hill.

You're also likely to have problems keeping cars coupled at the vertical curves at the top and bottom of the grade without very careful construction of the roadbed and track.

[Anonymous]

If you have the width you might want to look at using a switch back rather than such a steep grade; as others have said the units may not be able to pull themselves up that grade never mind any cars behind them.

[rrinker]

Consider a helix. Take those two 36" radius curves you have and make many more, stacked on top of one another. With an HO typical 4" separation between levels, that will be a less than 2% grade. Just about anything will work on that grade.

--Randy

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

Consider a helix. Take those two 36" radius curves you have and make many more, stacked on top of one another. With an HO typical 4" separation between levels, that will be a less than 2% grade. Just about anything will work on that grade.

--Randy

That is just what our club did.

[joecool1212]

Thanks for the info. I thought about a helix but trying to hide it would be impossible. It would have to go on top of the layout. Cant go in a corner of the room(its the walkway). Has anyone tried to hide it in a big mountain? Joe A.

[wp8thsub]

QUOTE: Originally posted by joecool1212

I thought about a helix but trying to hide it would be impossible. It would have to go on top of the layout. Cant go in a corner of the room(its the walkway). Has anyone tried to hide it in a big mountain?

Assuming your general scenery concept supports a mountain, that approach works. Another way to hide a helix is with a backdrop; I hid two on my last layout this way. Essentially create a false wall in front of the helix with something like Masonite, big styrene sheets, metal flashing, etc.

[joecool1212]

Just tried a test section at 10%. 2 SD80 pulled 10 cars up no problem. No curves though . Will try a 36 radius curve next with 5 engines and 20 card. 3-SD40-2's + 2 SD80's. It's supposed to be a helper grade so it needs a lot of power. Joe A.