Imagine if you will.... (another newbee question)

[SpaceMouse]

If two tracks are decending towards each other at 2% grade meet in a crossover and the tracks continue the two percent downgrade. Will there be a problem at the crossover. If so, can it be resolved?

[dehusman]

Are you talking about a crossover or a crossing?

A crossover is a pair of switches that allow a train to move from one track to the other.
A crossing is where two tracks cross each other, but trains cannot change from one track to the other.

Pretty much the answer in either case is that you will have to flatten out the grades where both tracks meet. If you don't you'll have a virtually instantaneous 4% grade change and if you can warp the track that much at all, it will operate very poorly.

Dave H.

[SpaceMouse]

I guess it is a crossing and not a crossover. As I said, it will only be a 2% grade. I plan on the length of the crossing being flat. Would you recommend longer?

[Leon Silverman]

Yes.
If you are operating long wheel base locomotives, in particular steam engines, you want them to be level before they go thru the curves of the crossover. Otherwise, you may have derailments. Also, the tracks should level out through a transition, otherwise you run the risk decoupling or jamming the trip pins into the track ties.

[SpaceMouse]

Are we talking being flat the length of the locomotive or longer?

[Jetrock]

It's not the length of the flat part but the length of the transition--a gradual curve, rather than an abrupt "kink" where your engines will get snagged.

I'm having some difficulty visualizing this. Is there a reason why the two tracks need to meet at this level, rather than having one line go over the other, supported by a bridge?

[Eriediamond]

In my opinion, I would think it would be best to have the leads to the crossing to be level at least the distance of the longest loco or car to be operated over it. My main concern is the coupler trip pins catching if the car is not level, especially long passenger or container cars where the trucks are located a good distance from the end of the car. Do I make any sense here? It doesn't take much movement on one end to exceed the trip pin clearance on the opposit end of thse cars. Ken