I just need a passing grade.

[Anonymous]

[:D]
I'm setting up a small layout to run the circumference of my office about 10" down from the ceiling on a 6" ledge. I'd like to give it some ups & downs & was wondereing how extreme I could get with the inclines. Can I rise 3" in 57"?
Any help would be appreciated.
Jack
P.S. To start I bought a Bachman set "Irish Railway" and am just adding track. The room is 11'x9'

[Anonymous]

Are you using an HO scale train? If you are, you can buy an incline kit at a hobby shop. They are made of foam, and can bend around curves. A 3% grade is pretty steep, but easily manageable if you put few enough cars per locomotive. 4% would be manageable if you use a consist of 2 or 3 locomotives. with a grade this steep, you will need a kit to adjust the amount of point at the top where you turn flat. The grade percent is figured as inches rise per inches long i.e. 3% = 3 inches rise in 100 inches. if my calculations are right, you would be pushing it to make a rise that steep.

Good luck,
Greg

[Anonymous]

Thanks Greg,
I am using HO scale. All the grades will be along straight track so I'll keep them at 3%.

[Anonymous]

3% should be ok but the grade you mentioned above would be nearly 6%! i doubt that even the loco in that set alone would make it up. unless of course it has traction tires...