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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by mcnamarajohn From what I gather a 3% upgrade is roughly what works well. How about downgrade limits? If I always run the train in the same direction, can I go with a steeper downgrade than 3%? [/quote] [#welcome] Mcnamarajohn. You are right that if you plan on running your trains only in one direction you can have a steeper grade on the 'downhill' section. In theory there is no such thing as a steepest downhill grade, however consider this: Just as a train slows as it goes up the hill, it will speed up coming down. So your nice realistic speed train going uphill becomes a slot car set coming down the hill, and then if their is a curve at the bottom ... [:0][}:)] There are controllers you can buy that will keep the train running at constant speed regardless of grade, but they are not cheap. So if you've got a small layout and the train takes 1min to do a loop, every 30 sec you are going to have to be speeding it up or slowing it down to keep it under control. Some people like that and call it operation. But after 10 laps it gets tedious and you can't just let it run while you pop inside for a pit stop. Of course if your layout is massive and it takes 10mins to do a loop, then it's probably not going to be a problem for you. My first layout was all flat. You could let the train run while you cooked the BBQ. My new one has bridge with a 4%grade on one side and 2% on the other (much like what you are asking). Sorry I haven't done enough to run a test train yet, but I've done so much on it now, that I'm committed to it, so I sure hope it works! Glen.
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