Hey, just saw this thread after replying to your e-mail, where I mention the foam option in addition to wood risers. . Given the constraints of the short part of the "T" of your layout, 4% grade was the best I could do at 8" high. To get shallower you'd need to either eliminate or move the turnout for the spur within that loop or sacrifice some height on the overpass. As 4% is the absolute MAXIMUM grade you'd want to run scale equipment at (the lower the better), you may want to test run your longer and/or favorite trains up such a grade before setting this in stone.
I've tinkered with my design a little bit and moved the turnout up the line a bit closer to the crossover. This takes the grade of the inner loop down to 3.1%, and IIRC 2.7% for the outer loop, which is much more favorable. As a bonus, it also gives you more siding to work with. I've attached my updated files below, and would love to know what you, and others, think.
NOTE: I whipped this together quick on a whim over lunch & briefly after work. Please let me know if I blew something obvious or made other glaring mistakes, etc. Thanks.
- Neal
