Backing Long Train into Siding with Slight Downward Grade

I am using a slight (~0.3%) downward grade on the sidings in my HO train yard. This makes backing long freight trains into the sidings easier and significantly reduces the derailing accidents.
Bob

 

I agree with that. I have a "bowl" effect in my classification yard and that aids in backing long strings of cars.

 

That downward grade into sidiing ends and onto spurs is actually quite prototypical, but not for the reason you mention...which is good enough for modellers just for the reason you cite, and a good idea. The prototype does this to keep cars from inadvertently rolling freely through a turnout allowing the junction and fouling the main line it joins. As you know, it takes a good bit of momentum or some horsepower to get even a single hopper or boxcar up a .5% grade. In fact, it takes over three times the hp to get an item of rolling stock up a 0.5% grade as it does to make it roll on a level grade. So, if you look closely, a siding running along a main track where traffic is heavier and generally faster, the siding will have its bearing surfaces running about 4-6" lower than the bearing surfaces on the rails beside it out on the main.

 

Crandell,
Thanks for the very interesting information on sidings grade. Maybe one day I will get into a prototypical layout. Right now I am sufficiently challenged just getting a layout completed that the grandkids and I can have some fun with.
Bob

 

Thanks for sharing your "bowl" experience! It alerted me to my sagging problem. My hollow core doors with ¼” Polyurethane foam needed to be supported in the middle of the long side.
Bob

 

Here is my added cheep plastic storage container support for the middle of the hollow core door. I use them without the wheels to get the 24 inch (kid friendly?) height.

I have also included pictures of a long train (3 diesels & 44 weighted cars) taking the two reversing loops. If all the cars were on the ~3% grade at the same time the diesels probably wouldn’t make it. I cheated and used a high quality clear finger nail polish to extend the reversing district gaps so that the metal car wheels do not trigger the reversing units.
Bob