GRJ - I tried to build with no more than 2.8% grades. There are a couple of spots pushing 3.8% according to scarm - although I did adjustments as I built to minimize the grade, particularly at the turnouts. So what on scarm was supposed to be 6 1/2 to 7 inches clearance ended up at 5 1/2. Visually most of the adjacent track is on a down grade while that next to it is going up, so even at a 2.5% grade it looks like 5%. The most visible spot is left of the dbl crossover where the track is diverging vertically in order to get cross over clearance further around the bend. While operating, the longer trains slow down a bit going up and speed up going down when running conventional. Using DCS it maintains constant speed. Without the space savings of the crossover I could not get the vertical clearances and could not build this layout. NOTE: I went back with a level and measured the grades at various points. My steepest grade is 13/16" over a run of 28" = 2.9% grade. A few points have 3/4 rise over 28" = 2.68%. The rest of the grades are 1.8%. Minimum tunnel clearance is 5 1/2" top of rail to bottom of tunnel / bridge.
This is where the software helped immensely. I kind of knew what I wanted, it showed what I could and could not do given my space constraints. Really good reality check.
https://drive.google.com/file/...yLx/view?usp=sharing
I posted this in May 2020. I forgot about all the residue left by blue painters tape used to protect the track from the gray grout mix seen all around the layout. A quick wipe with alcohol cleaned it right off.
