I'm a member of a committee at my trainclub working on adding a "Shortline" to the existing HO layout. The givens of this shortline were the following: a place to run smaller slower locomotives but still be capable of handling big trains so as to extend the running area if desired. depict logging and mining. fit overtop the existing mains. crossing over the mains in various locations. Druthers were: 24" radius curves. Of course, 4 years ago when the mainlines were designed and installed, nobody thought about this aspect of the layout beyond armwaving and didn't do any planning to make it easier. So we're left to shoehorn it in. We've come up with a dogbone that actually fits fairly well and I think in terms of a logging/mining line looks fairly realistic. The question is, just because it looks good doesn't mean it will actually operate well. I'm not going to post a drawing of it, because I don't have the time, but there are some basics of the design that I can impart and get some feedback. The dogbone is 24" R curves at a maximum 2% grade with a max straightaway grade of 4% but most likely sticking closer to 3% wherever possible. These grades are chosen, because we have to get up and over the mains at certain spots. So here's the question, how do these small locos like the Shay perform when presented with such a route profile? Are we going to be doubleheading anything with more than 2 cars here? And what about your average say Athearn BB/RTR or really any Diesel. I'm assuming we're talking multiple units and maybe helpers for a train of anything more than a few cars...which in my opinion is a goal, but am I right? For times when we're doing operating sessions, I'm not so concerned as long as the Shay and similar sized engines can handle it. I'm more concerned about performance when the layout is just being run as multiple loops.
My Riviossi (sp) 3 truck Heisler will pull all six of my ore cars plus a logging car w/logs up my 6.7 degree grade, zero problems. My Bmann 3 truck Shay will barely make it up this slop on its own. It will make the lower grade of 4 degrees pulling 4 ore cars. My Bman 3 truck Climax will barely make it up this slop on its own. It will make the lower grade of 4 degrees pulling 3 ore cars. I think the Climax is a bit light. Each loco will pull all my cars on slopes of 2 degrees or less. 10 total cars for the Climax and Shay. My Heisler doesn't really notice all 10 of my cars. I figure it will pull maybe 15 forty foot boxcars. What a beauty! These locos are all DCC. Jim
Maybe you could lay a temporairy length of rail off of the pike and set it at varied angles to see how your loco(s) handle it, and the cars you connect to them. I belonged to a club in the Santa Barbara area that faced the same problem for construction of their HOn3 addition. Oddly enough, they decided to go UNDER the majority of the existing HO pike, calling it 'the rat-hole'. Some of the rail did cross over the HO rail and made interesting visual / engineering-design features. But what the heck, that's what our hobby is all about.
Mocking it up is a great idea. Let the items doing the work tell you what their physics is all about. That said, have you looked at one of the Mantua loggers, the articulated ones? I think they work well, and they are/were designed for rougher and tougher trackage in the Back 40. They are large enough that you can add some weight. I would bet you can get 10 cars or more up a 4.5% grade without too much difficulty, and even better if you add another two or three ounces under the shell. M. B. K.lein has them on sale at the moment. (Server doesn't like the real spelling!?)
Jim nailed it, the Rivarossi Heisler is superior to the Bachmanns as far as this is concerned, if your forced to go with Bachmann, your 3- 4% is at the limit, testing would be the best idea.. Keep in mind that Jim's ore cars are the Ticheys, which are very light to begin with, (unsure if Jim has added weight, please correct me if I'm wrong) Too bad the Heisler was discontinued, the last version was the best they made.
Thanks for the advice guys, as I said in my first post, this is for a club layout, so I don't really have any say in rolling stock and engines. I just figured the Bachmanns would be the most likely for other clubmembers to have. The poor performance on 4% grades is disappointing. There are a few spots where they can't be avoided.
Dean, I filled a couple of cars with 'ore.' The other four are empties. These Tichy cars preform quite well with just the metal wheels for weight. I haven't done it but I think my empties would run better with a bit of weight added. Not much maybe a gram or two. The problem with these ore cars is not the cars themselves or any of the parts. The trucks must be assembled and great care taken to make them square. Something I'm afraid I have a hard time doing. I'm looking to replace my current trucks for some preassembled ones. Because I can't glue correctly I'm having some derailments. My fault, not the Tichy's. Jim:wideeyes:
Hey Jim Yes I have 6 of the Ticheys that I bought off a modeler who was moving to On30, I had problems with derails, so I exchanged them for some MDC trucks and metal wheels, much better performance, I picked up a kit last weekend so I can build two myself, I really like them Good Luck YoHo, if all else fails, time to doublehead! :happy:
