Steve: Try to keep the grade at slightly under 2%. If you have one track going up and another going down, if they crossover, the effective grade is 1%. If it's doable in your case, it might be worthwhile to design your grades that way. It would increase the performance of all your loco's significantly with only a 1% grade. Stay cool and run steam........
Bob, Last night I was running a train that was about 4 feet long with all new cars of mixed types, (pics to follow). That really seemed to be the max I would want to run. With twin, (Atlas GP35s), locos up front do you really anticipate an issue? Wouldn’t cloths lining be more of an issue or am I in for a rude awakening? J
Steve: With twin loco's on the point you won't have any problems. With a maximum of 12-15 cars ( 4 feet of cars) you'll be fine. Stay cool and run steam....
Bob I always run with a pair, (even switching). I think it just look soooo cool. Now, Of course, can I find just the combination to run longer with a mid train DPU that will manage my grades without a calamity.
Preliminary Test of Track Support Outside curve is about 4% and will be tested for steeper and shallower. Most likely will end up around 2%. Inside curve is about 2% and will be as gentel as I can make it so the 2-6-0 can manage it. Thanks to Mike (nscale_lover) for warning me about not starting a grade too close to a turnout. That is worth a subscription to Train Board in and of itself! For Full Size Pics http://www.railimages.com/gallery/2_Grey_and_Grandure_Construction/aai [ July 09, 2005, 04:32 PM: Message edited by: Grey One ]
The purpose of the grade is to gain elevation for esthetics hence the desire for even greighter. Last post till sometime tommorrow.
Yeah a 4 percent grade will really cut your train lengths down, unless you want five engines on the point of a 12 car train I'd consider cutting that grade down to say, 2.5.
More like: Lead: 2 engines Next: 10 to 12 cars Next: 2 engines Next: 10 to 12 cars We shall see. BTW: I do appreciate the advice. I have never been one to accept the status quo or common knowledge. 99 percent of the time I’m wrong but I live for that 1 percent where I make a breakthrough or at least ½ of one.
Steve: A 4% grade for the combo you envision using is too much as well. It will result in many unforseen derailments since you can't speed match loco's ( especially four) using DC. Why not use the four loco's at the point? That's your best chance for any degree of success. Have fun anyways..... Stay cool and run steam.....
Um, Pete ? Bob? did you guys get my PM? I'm going DCC. Where do you guys buy your DCC equipment? Please PM as I don’t’ want to start a debate over who / what / where to buy it. I feel like a traitor and turncoat and a few other things but I have a strong feeling that DCC falls into the above referenced 99% category. I have had these feelling for a long long time. I have just been stuborn, er I mean detrmined. Initially I will run both. The main line will be DCC and the GandG will be DC. I am also double tracking much / almost all of the main. I have also just designed a full loop into the GandG so I can continuously run trains on both.
Now that your doing DCC it will be much easier (And a whole lot more fun) to run your mid-train helpers. For a DCC system, I suggest NCE its a very easy to use interface and has a nice big LCD screen.
I heard that NCE is comming out with a new system similar to their procab but at an entry level price.
Design for Roll on Roll off Storage and Staging This will go at the end of the Phase III table and extend to the soon to be swining the other way door. The shelves will be sitting loose on shelf brackets of some sort. There will be as many as practical on that wall There will be a “lip” to prevent the shelves from falling off There will be a clear edge to prevent cars from falling off the side and ends. The shelf in line with the bridge will be empty Hopefully I will be able to store at least 4 feet of train on these shelves. I envision being able to easily moving a shelf from storage to staging. [ July 12, 2005, 09:54 AM: Message edited by: Grey One ]
Grey One, Some times in Model Railroader they have a system that you are thinking about. It is a elevator type unit that has about eight tracks that goes up and down so that you can bring on and take off units.
Wiking, Thanks, I think I have seen them, (may be where I got the idea), but I think I'll try it my way. This is probably a year off and the hardest part will be getting the roll on / off perfect.
Grey if you are going to be doing removable staging you should really do some research int how the britts do it. they are geniuses when it comes to sliding trays and cassettes etc.
