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Industry turnouts off of a mountain incline/decline

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  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern CA Bay Area
  • 4,387 posts
Posted by cuyama on Sunday, February 11, 2018 5:04 PM

Note that a spur departing from a graded track will be on that same grade as it leaves the turnout. You will need a transition (which takes some running length) to make it level. Otherwise you'll need some other method of keeping the spotted cars in place on a grade.

Changing grade too abruptly (or too close to the turnout) may create an unreliable spot -- and of course if the spur departs in the uphill direction one has the issue of getting cars to stay put on a short graded spur.

Good luck with your layout.

Byron

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • 50 posts
Industry turnouts off of a mountain incline/decline
Posted by northeast_train_guy_1965 on Sunday, February 11, 2018 4:41 PM

Hi Everyone,

 

 I would like to add a logging and a gravel industry to my 5‘ x 9‘ HO scale way out but I’m limited on space. Both would work well up in the mountains. My incline s and declines are a 2% grade and I would like to back into an industry to drop off / pick up rolling stock on a single ended siding or stub.

 

The siding will be level and in most cases I have just enough room to have a turnout just past the mainline turnout to split into separate drop off and a pick up tracks so Maneuvering freight cars around won’t be in issue at the industry. All freight cars can be loaded  / unloaded with construction equipment such as payloader, crane, or fork lift.

 

The  Industry and siding will be on level ground. The only unlevel ground will be the 2% grade of the  mainline off of which the main acanthus will back freight carriers into the industry. Train delivering to these industries will be very short and they will not be any Schoeffling of cars,  just drop off and pick up. I can actually envision a switcher making a short run out of the town industrial yard up to the mountain industrial areas. 

 

 My main question is:

 

 In Proto typical operation, would something like this occur in real life? Could you have a siding coming off of a mountain grade to serve in industry as I described above? 

 

 Thanks for any input. I have tried to research this topic and haven’t found any conclusive answers so I’m looking for peoples experience this topic. 

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