I have two questions. I would like to know what the rate of rise is supposed to be for HO Scale track? As an example, for every one foot of horizontal there is "?" increase in heigth. Also, because I couldn't find the search function for the Forum, does anyone know where to find it so I can search for answers for questiosn already asked? Thanks, HOBrian
The search function is located on the right of the page under the title: Search the Community. There is no standard slope although many recommend a max of 2 to 2.5%. It all depends on your locos and your train length.
Joe
Brian:
The rise is usually stated in percentage, or in inches of rise per 100 inches of run.
This translates to .24 inches rise per foot of run, at 2%.
Hope this helps.
Dave
HOBrianAs an example, for every one foot of horizontal there is "?" increase in heigth.
Well, it's easier (to understand) if you use 100 inches rather than 12 inches (one foot).
1 inch rise over 100 inches is 1%, 2 inches rise over 100 inches is 2%, and so forth.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
The Search the Community function on the right usually is iffy in finding what you want easily. It tends to generate a reverse choronological list of anything that includes a word you use, including each thread response. So it gets long and tedious. Try it, but back that up with a google search such as "site: cs.trains calculating grade or rise". Example such result below.
https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome-psyapi2&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8&q=site%3A%20cs.trains%20calculating%20grade%20or%20rise&oq=site%3A%20cs.trains%20calculating%20grade%20or%20rise&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.16928j0j7
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
MicroMark has a nice tool to check your grades: http://www.micromark.com/SearchResult.aspx?deptIdFilter=0&searchPhrase=miniature+digital+levelhttp://www.micromark.com/SearchResult.aspx?deptIdFilter=0&searchPhrase=miniature+digital+level
Thank you everyone. The information is very helpful!
HOBrian
Welcome to the Forum, and it looks like you got some good info.
Assuming you are working HO, and its a non logging or mining RR, a 2 percent max grade is probably a good rule of thumb. Pulling power and realism decreases greatly with anything more.
ENJOY!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I think Maxman put it in the least confusing way. A grade, or slope or rise, which is:
1% is 1 inch rise in elevation for every 100 inches in distance,
2% is 2 inches rise in elevation for every 100 inches in distance,
3% is 3 inches rise in elevation for every 100 inches in distance, etc.
Woodland Scenic's makes foam risers that will let you raise your track with grades in general ranges of 2%, 3% and even 4%, although 4% is quite steep and only recommended for short trains really. I'd strongly recommend you keep your grades under 3%. A max of 2% is a good idea to stick to if you plan on running long trains really although real railroads such as the D&RGW did have 3% grades on their Tennesee Pass route which was eventually closed down in 1996 due to it being a major operating expense requiring long helper sets etc.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
You can do 4% with no problem with diesels, more than that and you start to have issues. I have most of my layout dead flat but to get to the upper yard, I have 4% but it is fairly short, about 2' or less. I have a line running down from that area too but it is a much steeper 6%, looks good but dose not function well if I try to use it for anything other than I designed it, downhill. So if your railroad runs in only one direction, you can get by with a steeper downhill grade.
How much grade is right for you is determined by two things:
What your locos can do is best determined with a test fixture. Variables include (but are not limited to): Weight on drivers, gear ratio, length of normal train, traction tires (or lack thereof)...
What the prototype you model had for standards.
The New York Central ("The Water Level Route") considered any deviation from dead level on the New York - Chicago main line to be a significant grade. The West Albany Hill, 0.59%, frequently called for a pusher for passenger trains that had stopped at Allbany.
The 2.2% standard grade for the first transcontinental route was set by Congressional fiat - that being the ruling grade on the Baltimore and Ohio.
The ex-Southern (now NS) Saluda Grade averaged 4.24% for over two miles, with one short stretch that approached 5%.
The Madison Incline climbed a river bluff at 5.79%, the steepest standard gauge grade in the US - ever.
In the area I model the JNR had 2.5% grades on a very busy secondary mainline. Elsewhere, the Usui Grade (now abandoned) was 6.8% and the Hakone Tozan Railway operates electric MU cars on 8% grades.
The Grande (now Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway) has a 4% climb from Chama to the summit at Cumbres. The Uintah (which ran the prototypes for those Mantua 'logger' 2-6-6-2Ts) climbed 8% grades and wrapped around street corners to cross Baxter Pass.
In my own modeling, I run short trains of (mostly) short cars on my 2.5% mainline grades, doubleheading or adding helpers as necessary. My short line to the collieries climbs 4% with shorter trains of shorter cars - three teakettles (20 total drivers) on a mixed train with only 6 cars. My grades ARE steep, because I deliberately designed them that way.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
As dehusman pointed out, 8 feet = 96", which is close enough to 100" for most purposes. So 1" rise in 96" = approximately 1%, as was stated.
Luckily, 8 feet is a nice round power of 2 that's easy to break down to shorter lengths. Divide it in half, and that means the same 1" rise over 4 feet would be a bit more than 2%. Do that again, and you find 1" rise over 2 feet would be just over 4% (which is probably the maximum you want to do in any scale, unless you're running geared steam).
Break it down into fractions and you can deal with 1 foot lengths. Over a span of 1 foot, 1/4" rise = 2%, 1/2" = 4%.
When I built my layout, I created a set of cardboard curve templates of varying radii (18", 20", 22" and 24"; since each curve could have a different radius inside and outside, two templates covered all four radii). I then used a tape measure curved around each radius to mark the length of run that would give me 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% grades for each X amount of rise. For example, 2 feet of run (less than a quarter circle on an 18" radius) gives me 1% with a 1/4" rise and 2% with a 1/2" rise. This made it easy to plan my grades around curves, which can be tricky to measure with the typical long-stick-and-a-bubble-level technique.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
I took some 1/8" thick material and made a "step gauge" a series of stair steps each 1/8" high.
I used a 2 ft level so each 1/8" step is .5% grade. I mark each step for the grade. I put the step at the low end of the level and adjust it so its in the bubble and I have set the grade. No math. If I want a 1.5% grade, I put the level on the 3rd step. 3/8" in 2 ft, 3/4" in 4 ft, 1.5" in 8 ft.
Use a 4 ft level and you can get to 1/4% grades if you are that exacting.