? about grade in HO scale

[Anonymous]

Im in the process of dismanteling my 4x8 and moving to a larger L shaped layout and on my new layout i want to recreate the 4.6% grade, going up to 6-12 inches for the summit ,close to me im in Asheville, North Carolina, the main length will be 6+ feet per up or down hill with a 3 foot summit, so what height per foot do i need to pull this off if its even possible if i have confused anyone please let me know and ill try to explain better. Thanks for the help

Nick

[jrbernier]

Nick, You want the track to rise 4.6" for every 100" of trackage. To rise up to a 12" level, you will need 261" of mainline. Now, that is a very steep grade and any curves in the grade will make the pull even harder for your engines. The real Southern used to 'double' or even 'triple' train up that hill, and try to run loaded trains on an alternate route if possible.

Jim Bernier

[cwclark]

that is one steep grade...you might want to consider building a helix with a grade like that...the rule of thumb is a 1" rise from point A to point B for every 100" of track is a 1% grade, a 2" rise from point A to point B for every 100" of track is a 2% grade and so forth...a 2% grade is about as far as you want go without your locomotives getting really stressed to make the grade...chuck

[Anonymous]

yeah im lookin at running a 4 ac4400 run with about 20-30 cars i just like showing what real poweris meant for and i havent seen anyone do a REAL steep grade on their layout so i thought it would be cool and challenging in the same layout thanks for the help, by the way what is the name of the grade im talking about i know what state its in but i cant remember the name of the grade

[cwclark]

are you talking about the tehachepi loop in California? or the old Denver and rio grande southern's narrow gauge line's telluride pass in Colorado?

[Anonymous]

its the one in north carolina i think it starts with an "s"

[Big_Boy_4005]

Just remember that models don't have the different horsepower ratings like the real ones do. On the other hand, while 4% is considered very steep in both modeling and prototype, putting enough engines on the train should do the job.

North Carolina just came up in another topic, I think it's Saluda or something like that.

[Anonymous]

thats what it was saluda grade yeah it was in a previous post i put up but couldnt find it to save me thanks big boy

yeah i figure 3-4 kato ac4400 or some sd's otta do the trick
i have a 20 impack car load that im gonna run on that grade i figure its the lighest load i have so far, my coal would be too heay along with anyothers i have

[Anonymous]

It is Saluda

[selector]

Good for you for taking that ambitious modelling project! I wonder, though, if it would not be wiser to minimize the rise enough to make it all an effective compromise between the compression needed to fit in the space available, the capability of the locomotives, and also the eye-appeal. Too steep a grade on a layout invites disbelief, and if there is one thing we don't need more of with our layouts, it is the eye-rolling factor. It also invites a perpetual source of frustration when your dream fails to materialize if the locos won't manage to draft the trains that you have in mind.

-Crandell

[howmus]

I agree with crandell. This is a place where selective compression (in this case in height) might be a much better solution. If it were me, I would try to keep the grade around 3% or so. Still very steep, but much more likely that it will work the way you want.

[Anonymous]

Also, you need to remember, grade is the same, regardless of scale. I got confroozed on that once. Grade is the same from Z scale all the way to 1:1. I like the sound of your steep grades. My steppest is 8.4%. But then, I am running a logging line.

[ICRR1964]

I agree with that to, you need to make more of a real look. In the real world it would take miles to get this, that is realistic, on an HO set up you have to make a it look good but also functional. A freind and I did this once on his setup and it was steep! After allot of talking we built it the way he wanted and did the run then! Three 12 wheel drive loco'c lashed to 18 cars, it almost stalled as the loco's reached the top, and it really did not look good either, so we took it all apart and lowered it and got the results we were looking for. This is something to consider when builing your grade.

[jecorbett]

Maybe it is just me but on a model, a grade looks steeper than it actually is. I have a grade that is only about 1.5% but when the train moves off the flat onto the hill, it looks like it is going up a roller coaster.

[Anonymous]

Modeling Saluda with that kind of grade is accurate. Just make sure to double the hill when your operating!

[Anonymous]

thanks for all the great advice huys will surley take them into concideration and will show pics when i have the base done, as for size i got home a measured and on lenght of the L will be 36" x 12' and the other side will be 36" x 7' so i think it will be very doalbe if not it will be funny watching a runaway train each time hahaha

[lesterperry]

Wow I never figured it ou tbefore but I have a short line logging RR on my layou tthat appears to have about a 10 % grade. I descided on the grade but putting track on a board running my shay with 2 box cars & cabbose and raiseing the end until it stalled then lowerde it a little. Now to get from main line of C&O to mountain top on J&M rr ( Jon & Michael) it is a big job. 2 cars at a time sometimes needing to take up 4 or 5 cars takes some time. It ultimately gets high enough I can walk under it without ducking. Yard is 1/2 way up the mountain.

[Leon Silverman]

One other consideration should be kept in mind if you want to use this kind of grade; Make sure the track at the bottom of the grade has a barrier between it and the floor if the track goes into a curve. If you train uncouples on the grade, it could gain an awful lot of speed by the time it reaches the bottom of the grade, causinng it to derail when it goes around the curve.

[Budliner]

I say go for the helix
Its a drag when the locos are strugling
on my steep grade


whats a confroozed