grade percentage

[CP5415]

I need to get a track up & over another, in a short piece of real estate if at all possible. I'm thinking somewhere inbetween 3-4% grade. I could get away with using a 2.5% grade but it would leave less space at the end of the incline
to move trains around at the top.
It's going to be a "shortline" moving small trains, about 2-3 cars per train, to & from a working interchange with my "class 1".
Popular vote wins in the end
Your help, advice or suggestions would be appreciated.
[:)]

Gordon

[BR60103]

Gordon:
I have a 2% maximum on my RR. I have some locos that haul fairly long trains up it and others that struggle with 5 or 6 cars. Do experiment with your own locos to see what they will take.
You can make a grade test track from a straight 8' board. The number of inches that the one end is higher is the grade percent (as close as you need.)

[CBQ_Guy]

Choice 6.) As little as possible!

[Anonymous]

On my 5'x12' all grades are 2%-3% and I have 4 "up & over" track crossings.

[Anonymous]

Really this is up to you and what your trains can handle. I'd experment with each engine that would have to transgresse those up and overs.

try them alone first to find the max grade you can handle for the worst engine (worst meaning the one that handles the lowest grade and still moves), then slowely add cars to it and decrease the grade till the train smoothly for the max number fo cars you'll pull over it (i'd add a few cars more than you plan just to be safe).

Jay

[dehusman]

.5 to 1.5%. If you go 2% or more most steamers will have dramatic reductions in capacity.

Dave H.

[DSchmitt]

Since you will only be moving 2-3 cars a 4% grade should be no problem.

[bruce22]

thru necessity my helix is 3.5% . Either I limit the length of the train or I " double the hill". I prefer the latter.

[cp1057]

Although I voted 3%, that is only in theory. My actual grade is 0%. My layout is strictly a "water route" I am a-feared of grades and avoid them at all costs. It's enough of a challenge to get a nice level track what with the unlooked-for grades in my basement floor!

Charles
Hillsburgh Ontario

[yellowducky]

The steeper the grade, the longer the straight "runway" I put before it. I like to play
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." Also, I try to avoid a sharp curve at the top.

[CP5415]

Ok, so after testing several locomotives separately on a 3.5% grade, including an Athearn GP9
in my "shortline" livery, which is the MEC by the way, all of them were able to pull 5 Athearn passenger cars up this grade with little difficulty.
All these locomotives were tested with 7 Roundhouse bulkend flatcars, again with no difficulty.
Thanks for your input, I think i'm going to go with a 3% grade

Gordon

[Anonymous]

I really shouldn't go here and some will cringe others will laugh and others will walk away.
But I'm talking up to 7%+, ouch you say, hence the big power on the M.E.S.S.

I'm trying to bring the grades down but I will still be left with a minimum of 4 to 5%.

Oh but what scenery!!!

[Anonymous]

I have rather steep grades on my 4X9 layout. Dont know exactly what the grade is maybe a 4% or 5%. I have some locos that pull fine up it but others don't. That allows me to have some fun with helpers. I've spent many fun hours trying to get a train of a loco and 4 cars and a helper up the hill going real slow.

Thanks,
Jeremy

Go Packers
stinking Detroit[:(!]

[AggroJones]

I have no grades, so i don't have a problem with that. I suppose if my layout was larger I would use the lowest grades possible.

[Anonymous]

I only have a couple of feet of flat track. I tried to keep my grades under 2% but I failed in a couple of places. 7 traverses to get from the bottom to the top of my mountain.

[nfmisso]

Do NOT forget transitions !!! AKA vertical easements.

PRR had a branch in Ohio, which went down to the river with over 4% (.5%?). A single SD9 could only handle three or four cars on the branch.

On the SR's Murphy branch, a pair of GP38/GP38-2 (with dynamic brakes) would be used for 10 - 12 cars, because of the grades.