@Jan posted:People keep quoting grade values for real trains. Real trains do not have traction tires. Eric Siegel (ericstrains) has a 6% grade between his two levels and has no problems. Also, the shorter the grade the steeper the grade can be. It's only the portion of the consist on the grade that one needs to take in account.
Apparently you didn't read the post right before yours.
@zhubl posted:Our clubs new layout has a 3.125% max grade. We haven’t had much of a problem yet. My new VL Challenger though won’t pull 9 21” passenger cars up the grade it just stalls and slips.
I'm sure some people live with 6% grades, but I can assure you it limits your flexibility. I have a 2.4 and 2.5 grade, depending on the inside or outside track on the grade. Indeed, most stuff transitions the grade quite effortless. However, there are a couple of locomotives that struggle with a full consist of heavy cars on my grades. I know the Series II set Polar Express with the larger motor is working to pull seven passenger cars up the grade an the Hogwart's locomotive with eight cars as well. My Lionel Legacy SW7 is working with more than a few cars on that grade as well.
To suggest that I wouldn't have more issues with 6% grades is ridiculous! It's only common sense to minimize the grades wherever possible. You have also totally left out the folks without traction tires on their locomotives...
