@WebNerdNick try starting your grade a little sooner. Try to get the “red” switch and track segment up to around 2.5”. Then work your way up on the outside, and down on the inside as you progress clockwise around the oval. This should ease your grade some.
Of course then the upper loop will have to be higher than 7.2” but you can keep climbing after you cross the mainline at the far right, so the max grade (which limits train performance) won’t get any steeper. My $.02.
