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So, how many of you build layouts with turnouts on a grade?   

If so, is there a maximum grade you will run across a turnout?  1% - 2% - 3%?

I will start off - I have built two layouts with turnouts on a grade, both at 3% grade continuing across the turnout.  One with an Atlas O-36 turnout, and another with a Fastrack O-36 turnout.   Neither seemed to generate any problems in operation with 10 car trains and small locomotives.

I have debated whether it is better as a general practice, to continue a grade across a turnout (if it was 3% or less), or to have the turnout on the level, with the grades at each end of the turnout, which of course results in grade changes (and then I wondered if it would be even better to have a 4" or so section of track continuing level at all ends of the turnouts, so that locomotives (steamers in particular) are not changing grade while its wheels are also going through the points).

-Ken

Last edited by Ken-Oscale
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For optimal results involving turnouts, they should be in a flat level area. The tracks extending from the turnout in every direction should be in a flat level area. Even in real life, at times turnouts were put at places that were not ideal because of necessity. Unfortunately, I had to put a couple of my turnouts on grades on my layouts out of necessity. Fortunately, I have not suffered excessively. However, I have had more issues at those turnouts than any of the other ones in flat level areas. I would not recommend putting a turnout anywhere but a flat level area. It is entirely up to you.

I have five turnouts on a 1 1/2 percent grade. The two at the transition point at the top of the grade form a reversing loop and transition from two track main to a single track on the R loop. Very little in the way of problems with this. I should mention these are not turnouts that I built, these are actually AC Gilbert S gauge switches.

Ray

Last edited by Rayin"S"

Thanks for the comments and discussion everyone!  In my planning, I have tried to keep all turnouts level, thinking that was the more conservative standard,   But I am now concluding that for modest grades, it make sense to continue a grade across a turnout rather than have grade transitions at the three ends of a turnout.   --Ken

Ken,

Maybe a picture will help.  The turnout in the photo will have a mate to the left.  The two never worked well, for whatever reason.  I finally decided to take trains up and down the grade using the straight-leg track at the bottom of the photo.  The whole concept was flawed and made assumptions about track performance that simply weren't valid.

Picture1

George

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