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Planning layout and just starting benchwork... I see references to % or degrees on hills/grade. Seldom in articles is more than 4% or 5% recommended or locomotives won't make it up the hill! But what is this calculation? (Us newbies don't understand) How do you judge/calculate this? I need to know in simple terms....literally how many inches "up" can I go in how many "inches" of track? What are the maximums before locos will have trouble pulling a dozen cars up the grade?
Challenger Member # 1298
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A grade given as a percentage means that the number that is given in the percentage rises that number of units for every 100 units foward in travel.Example. A 4% grade rises 4 inches for every 100 inches of foward travel.
to give you some round numbers to work with. A 2% grade rises 1/2 inch in two feet of travel. 4% is 1 inch in same distance. I know the math is a little off. but the figures are very close for the stated percentage.
BridgeGuy Member # 2246
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Your math is pretty good, Challenger....
By the way, on actual railroads the grade hardly ever exceeds 1% on mainlines (i.e. 1 ft rise for 100 ft travel). Steeper grades, say approaching 2%, can sometimes be found on lead and spur tracks. Using 1% grades or less on model railroads is not always practical, of course, because of layout space limitations.
cajon Member # 40
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Notable exceptions to Bridgeguys 1% are the grades at Cajon, Tahachepi, Raton Glorieta & others out West. These range between 2-3% & are all mainlines.
Lloyd OBrien Member # 2134
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Anyone know the grade that the Shay Engine can climb? This, of course is the unusual case, with the Shay being built for hauling logs up & down mountains on normally quite short runs.
bibbs68 Member # 2204
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Lloyd, if memory serves me correctly, They are capable of climbing up to 15% depending on load.
nscale_lover Member # 2220
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Do I forsee a test ?
Cthetrains Member # 2148
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TEST??????...holy gods, no!!!!!..please.... I am no expert by anyone's use of the term, but some of the terrain I have seen that used to be travelled by shays looked to be about 4%, maybe a bit more, but I'd say 5% would be a bit of a stretch. If I am wrong, please let me know..so I can correct the voices in my head, for future reference.
------------------ Cory (o:}=
Russ Bellinis Member # 2377
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On the "Logger" tourist railroad near Yosemite National Park on hwy. 41 the shay there has a section of 14% grade on the tourist loop.
gary krieg Member # 2958
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i use 1/2'' rise for every 12'' of track. works great --- even helix ---no problems.
gary krieg Member # 2958
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i use 1/2'' rise for every 12'' of track. works great --- even helix ---no problems.
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