Ron045 posted:CAPPilot posted:It must be really nice to have a layout large enough to have 2% or less grades. I'm trying to limit mine to 3-3.5% since previous posts on this subject indicate engines with traction tires can handle that with a decent lenght train.
You can actually cheat a little bit. Don't think of one track going up or down. Where my train departs for an upper level, I have that track going up and the other track going down at the same time. That way the run to get the required height is not as great. One track goes up 4 inches and one track goes down 4 inches, now I have 8 inches of clearance for the train to go to a tunnel below the upper level.
Have Fun, Ron
Ron,
I've tried this technique using my RR-Track software and it works well. However, this now has two tracks not level and I wind up losing some other feature I want more. Comes down to priorities. Still working on my final design as I complete phase 1, so I may still use this technique.
