I pulled that number out of my hat. You're the one experimenting with the actual grades and conditions. I used to hang a circle of track in a live tree and run one trolley on it, and never heard a complaint because it wasn't as long as a train. I don't blame you for wanting to run something impressive. But that's a tradeoff. I said six cars not just because a switcher can handle that many even on pretty severe grades, but because a train that size will have minimal peoblems with getting tugged into the middle of the helix and falling because the engine is above the caboose and they're both pulling the middle of the train toward them (one with the motor, the other with gravity) across the circle. A full circle of train tends to cause headaches. I could as easily said five or seven cars. It isn't just the circle of train problem, either. More train requires more power to tug it and all its little wheel pin bearings up, and pushes harder going down. It's a train in a tree. It would be delightful with two cars. Don't cause yourself headaches. As for the railing a relief engine issue, you could totally install a little siding and switch on the back side of that tree for the off duty engine.
With 14 cars, I would keep adding locos until you have no issues going up the helix. My guess is, not knowing the exact % grade of your helix, you'll probably need 2-3 locos.
How do you figure the grade %? This is what I know, the helix is exactly 5ft (60 inches) high, and the track inside of it is 48,384mm in total length (224pcs @ 216mm each). Is there anything else I need to know?
acptulsa, your correct but not as steep as I was worried it would be. My goal was not to go over 4% but since I didn't know what I was talking about, that goal never really took fruition, lol. However, I had read about 4% being no man's land basically so that was how I set my goal, lol.
so things did not go well tonight, the brand new switcher died midway up the helix.... allowing me to experience first hand why people hate helix. I disconnected the engine and as luck would go... the cars got away. The only joy I got from it was the little snickers of my daughters as they heard the whirlwind of runaway cars that eventually took flight. I guess I could say its a self cleaning Helix. So I went back to my 6 axle engine which did great until it started its downhill run with roughly 10 cars. It makes it all the way to the bottom and then it just cannot make the hard curve at such high speeds. So what about this, I place shunts in at the beginning and end of the downhill run and put a second power pack on just the downhill section. Then set power to a slower speed. would that work? I think I read of people doing with with second trains they didn't want to move, so they created a dead section?
mtntrainman, it was 6ft tall. If you look at my profile pic, that was when I had completed it at exactly 6ft tall and the train climbed all the way to the top. It still had braces in that pic. Turns out it was too tall, I ended up cutting a foot off of it making it 5ft because I couldn't add the top of the tree without hitting the ceiling. The wife wouldn't let me get a bigger house, so I had to make this thing smaller, lol.
Trent...I was alluding to the fact of your trains derailing at the bottom curve coming down off the tree. Superelevated track might alleviate that. Kinda like curves on a rollercoaster. The 'banking' of the track helps keep the cars on the track. Just a thought.
Thats a good idea, but I am not sure I can pull it off. Tonight I slowed the train down only to realize it is sliding down the last part where it derails. It will be easier for me to just elevate it to less of a slope. I have enough space, just was hoping my woodwork was over on this so I could start installing limbs. speaking of that.... I STARTED INSTALLING LIMBS! I did one row to see if its how I want it and I think it will work perfect. So now I just got to start adding all the lower limbs. The pics are of the train making it to the top of the Helix and circling the tree top and about to start its way down.
I can’t wait until decorations start to go on! http://railroadboy.com/grade/ I’m not sure if it’s to late but something to reference to in the future. I used this I think my max grade is around 2.5% The steep ones are rough lol. I also had a flying incident
Did I miss where you mentioned what brand of switcher you were using? All this great work would go to waste if you are using inferior locomotives.
Catfan, I am playing it safe and using nothing but Kato from Track to Engines, to cars. So one switcher died and the other appears to be lost in the mail. So I purchased a Kato EMD F40PH and I gotta say, it has really upped my game! I hope to put some pics out tomorrow night... I have really been working on it this weekend.
