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First layout. Need help with curves
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<p>If you had a 2% grade going straight uphill it will just be X load against tractive effort of your engine at 2% grade. That 12 car train will go right up it without too much difficulty.</p><p> </p><p>If you took that 2% grade and made a 180 degree curve out of it and ran the train upgrade... suddenly that engine thinks it is about... 2.4 to 3% in gradient. Suddenly the engine thinks it has more cars on the back and need to work harder.</p><p>One modeler on these forums once had a picture of his Bachmann 2-6-6-2 pulling 21 cars and caboose up a 2% winding S curve OUT of his yard. Most incredible.</p><p>Your 18 inch sectional curves combined with 3% grades will create 4% and/or possibly greater actual gradients and generate stringlining or other problems with your rolling stock. Heck I dont know if a train longer than one loop of 18" helix will even stay on the rails.</p><p>My heavyweights want me to get into the curve 16 or so inches before I actually get to that curve. And come out of the curve into the actual middle of the curve at the tight radius 16 inches past the tangent. I dont know how else to explain that in words.</p><p>Basically you create a curve that gets tighter in radius the closer you approach the REAL curve. That is a form of cheating and a way to ease your monstor 2-40-2 onto 8 inches radius before it has any idea what is happening.</p><p>Oh one other thing. S curves REQUIRES a straight section in the middle at LEAST TWICE the length of your biggest engine or rolling stock or you WILL have trouble.</p><p>Dont even think of changing curve direction on a grade of any kind without some kind of Vertical transitions.</p><p>Now that I have thrown a wrench into your thinking with the need to learn "Vertical Transitions" I'll shut up now.</p>
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