standard gradient

[Anonymous]

I know this is an annoying question, but i've looked and can't find the answer... what is the standard grade percentage for HO scale railroading. I have 4.5% so far. i haven't built the railraod yet, im in the process of it, but i need to know if that is to steep. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I haven't really done a layout yet, but have asked a lot of questions. This is what I was told...on your mainline you want to try and stay at 2% or less...on sidings you can push 4% or even 6% only if it is breifly (or if your engine can get a good run!!!). If it is steep, you want your egiene to be level while pushing cars up that steep line, or you want it to level off before the engine starts to drag that bulk of cars up the incline.

[Anonymous]

Thanks alot.

[cprted]

A 2% grade is the usual standard. Any more that that and you start to run into traction problems (even on the real thing). On branchs and sidings brief amounts of steeper grade can some interest. In fact, near my house (Vancouver, BC, Canada) along the waterfront their is one spur that actually has a 6% grade, though it is only 150' long, it still gives a lone sw1500 a fair amount of work to pull two loaded grain cars up it.

On logging lines the max standard is 4.5% - 5%. The main thing to remember it not to get carried away.