Track clearance for a given length

[Anonymous]

I don't k now why any of you haven't thought of this but you can put this into Excel and put formulas in and it will calculate this pretty quickly and in a lot less time than it probably took you here. The chart will be much easier to read as well, as you can insert grid lines. This is a relatively simple spreadsheet.

[markpierce]

Now I got it. Thanks.

[fsm1000]

markpierce the fornating here was all messed up. It is properly formatted on my website. Give it a try. With your education you should be able to figure it out LOL.
As for writing technical stuff I was very good at it when we had typewriters and stencils and such. On the computer I am so-so though.
Anyhow, go take a look. I am sure you will understand it once it is seen in it's proper formatting.

[markpierce]

While I have a graduate degree from a top-flight university, I cannot readily make sense of the information you provided. All I see is a bunch of numbers, apparently associating track lenghts with grades and vertical clearnces. I wish you had experience in writing technical manuals, instructions to subordinates, etc.

[fsm1000]

Thanks Tim [:D]
and no I didn't pay him LOL.

[Anonymous]

Timothy,

If you want to see a readable version of Stephen's data have a look at his website http://fsm1000.googlepages.com/

[Anonymous]

Thanks Guys,

Thanks to Stephen for the hard work in calculating the data, and thanks to Timothy for letting us know how to post it in a form that is easily readable.

[chateauricher]

Stephen,

You obviously put a lot of work into making this chart; but it is very difficult to read.

To make your charts more readable, you should make a proper table on Word (or other word processor) and upload an image file (jpg) to a webhosting site like photobucket. Then insert it into your posting as you would any other photo.

[fsm1000]

Thanks. Was beginning to wonder if anyone noticed LOL.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I had already made a clearance chart for my own use. Yours is a lot better than mine, so I'm going to use it, instead.

[fsm1000]

This will give you the amount of clearance for a given length
of track at a specific grade.

Length and clearances are in inches.

Percentage of grade

1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10%
Length
of track
in inches

6 0.06 0.12 0.18 0.24 0.30 0.36 0.42 0.48 0.54 0.60

12 0.12 0.24 0.36 0.48 0.60 0.72 0.84 0.96 1.08 1.20

18 0.18 0.36 0.54 0.72 0.90 1.08 1.26 1.44 1.62 1.80

24 0.24 0.48 0.72 0.96 1.20 1.44 1.68 1.92 2.16 2.40

30 0.30 0.90 1.20 1.50 1.80 2.10 2.40 2.70 3.00 3.30

36 0.36 0.72 1.08 1.44 1.80 2.16 2.52 2.88 3.24 3.60

42 0.42 0.84 1.26 1.68 2.10 2.52 2.94 3.36 3.78 4.20

48 0.48 0.96 1.44 1.92 2.40 2.88 3.36 3.84 4.32 4.80

54 0.54 1.08 1.62 2.16 2.70 3.24 3.78 4.32 4.86 5.40

60 0.60 1.20 1.80 2.40 3.00 3.60 4.20 4.80 5.40 6.00

66 0.66 1.32 1.98 2.64 3.30 3.96 4.62 5.28 5.94 6.60

72 0.72 1.44 2.16 2.88 3.60 4.32 5.04 5.76 6.48 7.20

78 0.78 1.56 2.34 3.12 3.90 4.68 5.56 6.34 7.12 7.80

84 0.84 1.68 2.52 3.36 4.20 5.04 5.88 6.72 7.56 8.40

90 0.90 1.80 2.70 3.60 4.50 5.40 6.30 7.20 8.10 9.00

96 0.96 1.92 2.88 3.84 4.80 5.76 6.72 7.68 8.64 9.60

102 1.02 2.04 3.06 4.08 5.10 6.12 7.14 8.16 9.18 10.0

108 1.08 2.16 3.24 4.32 5.40 6.48 7.56 8.64 9.72 10.8

114 1.14 2.28 3.42 4.56 5.70 6.84 7.98 9.12 10.26 11.4

120 1.20 2.40 3.60 4.80 6.00 7.20 8.40 9.60 10.8 12


So say you have a length of track about 5 feet long [or 60 inches].
You need a clearance of about 2.5 inches.
Look down the left to 60. Go across to 3.00 [the next up from 2.4].
Go up and you find that it will be a 5% grade. If you can live with
that then go for it.

Or say that you know your loco won't look good over 4% grade so
that is your maximum.
So look across the top for 4%.
Then go down until you see the clearance that you need.
Say you are in On30 like me and you want 4.25 inches clearance.
You go down till you see 4.32 and then go to the left to see
that you need nine feet [or 108 inches] to get that grade % with that
clearance.

If you guys like this kind of info tell me because I have a lot of it written down abd will gladly share it once I type it all out.
But if you don't need this type of stuff, no problem, Saves me a ton of work LOL.

Enjoy and I hope it helps.