3% grade problem solved

[dwhitetop2]

Again many thanks guys. ARTHILL you are so right we learn every day of our lives. Ive been an automobile technician for 35 years and every day I learn somethig new. thanks again everyone ill be calling on you again very soon.      Dave

[GearDrivenSteam]

Good for you. Typically, grades larger than 2.5% are pretty rare. Logging lines used much steeper grades, but had special locomotives to handle them. 12% and greater was not uncommon. For a standard freight/passenger service though, 2.5% was generally about the steepest you'd see.

[ARTHILL]

Well done. I am sure you are aware that one good loco will not pull as many cars up a 2 % grade as on flat ground, though more than a 3%. Those great stories of long trains are on flat surfaces.

As far as learning a lot, I have only been doing this for 60 years, and I am amazed but how much I don't know.  Each day I seem to learn something I did not know before, in fact I did not even know I did not know it.

[selector]

Okay, Dave, good for you.  Just a quick reminder that your 2% grade will take considerably longer to generate the 3" clearance you'll need typically between the rail tops below whatever passes over them if you have tracks crossing each other.  If you intend to have nothing over the tracks, no tunnels or overpassing tracks and roads, then you can simply lay the 2% grade.

If you do have an overpass where one track crosses over another, don't forget that you also need a grade length to yield enough height to get a supporting structure under the upper track and still have clearance to the lower rails.

[dwhitetop2]

Good morning all!  thanks for all the great suggestions on my grade problem. I went down to the train room last night and started dismantleing the 3% grade, going to put in a 2%. from all the suggestions i think this will work much better. I have only been in mrr for 2 yrs. so im still learning a lot. i didnt think about adding extra engines or pushers. thanks again for all your valuable info.     Dave