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Hello all,

I picked up a MTH 4 car subway set last summer and just got around to opening it and getting it going. Absolutely LOVE IT and have it set up to make stops on an out and back run. Works great…

I want to expand its operation outside of my double main line but to do so it will need to be elevated. Herein lies the question that I’d like a realistic answer to. Can it realistically climb 6 inches in height over a 70 inch span of track? The current “end” of the subway line is up against a curve and the start of the end line is 70 inches from the curve.

I know it’s quite a steep grade, but this subway would be the only thing to ever climb it. I know any wheel slip at all would affect the out and back program so I don’t want to do it if it’s not possible. So, possible or pipe dream? Thanks.

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Nope, It likely will be traction limited. Again, powered unit by itself, maybe,

add 3 cars- probably stalls out. Add a curve into the grade and forgetaboutit.

Just my opinion and experience based on the Christmas LED lighted subway set. On a level grade tubular o-42 curve based elevated tubular track I cannot pull all 5 cars (the set was sold as 3+3 add-on). Again, just the friction of 5 cars on the level and its pushing the limit- let alone the extra drag in the curve.

Nope, It likely will be traction limited. Again, powered unit by itself, maybe,

add 3 cars- probably stalls out. Add a curve into the grade and forgetaboutit.

Just my opinion and experience based on the Christmas LED lighted subway set. On a level grade tubular o-42 curve based elevated tubular track I cannot pull all 5 cars (the set was sold as 3+3 add-on). Again, just the friction of 5 cars on the level and its pushing the limit- let alone the extra drag in the curve.

Thank you. I was looking for an honest answer. Appreciate it.

The subway sets have a couple of things working against them:

1: the power truck block is from the RailKing streetcar, so not really engineered for pulling much.

2: the non-powered cars have trucks that basically make them into dummy diesel locomotives, with all the drag that entails. That's probably the biggest factor affecting their pulling ability.

I've been known to run ten-car subway trains (just like the real ones), but I knew early on that I'd have to add a second powered car to make it work in that configuration , and that's how I run them -- with the second unit midway down the train.

---PCJ

My R11 set did ok on the grade but I didn’t want to push it. My other sets didn’t like the grade, so I took it down.

Another thing working against you is the curves on the grade (It's a lot harder to pull up a grade on a curve than it is straight). If you could reconfigure your track so that your curves are on the same elevation as the base and elevated track, and only have straight track on the rise and decent, it might work better...

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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