Which live steam large scale locos handle grades the best? I know there are some which need very level track, and am curious if there are any which can handle a real grade.
I would guess that most any of the geared locos would not be troubled by grades. I only have a 3 cyl. Shay but expect a Climax or Heisler would handle them as well.
My Shay doesn’t seem to even notice a grade…it just keeps moving along.
Andre’
Most rod locomotives will slow going up a grade and speed up going downhill. You can add R/C to assist in both directions.
My railroad has a maximum grade of close to 4%. I had Jon Kling bring one of his Ks over to my railroad and it ran just fine. But, he does have R/C. He let me control it, and it can really get away from you on the downhill side! This is where it’s nice to have the R/C to close the throttle. Uphill, I could only pull about 4 or 5 cars. Based upon that, I decided to get the 2 cylinder Shay, which doesn’t appear to be too affected by grades.
I know my AC Mike is limited to about a 1% grade with 5 heavey weights. I guess it depends on your taste of loco and then you"ll know what you can handle. Its will be based on what other folks have observed. Later RJD
Bruce Chandler said:
Most rod locomotives will slow going up a grade and speed up going downhill. You can add R/C to assist in both directions.My railroad has a maximum grade of close to 4%. I had Jon Kling bring one of his Ks over to my railroad and it ran just fine. But, he does have R/C. He let me control it, and it can really get away from you on the downhill side! This is where it’s nice to have the R/C to close the throttle. Uphill, I could only pull about 4 or 5 cars. Based upon that, I decided to get the 2 cylinder Shay, which doesn’t appear to be too affected by grades.
Shays are not overly effected by running away on down-grades as their drive train is not linear, like a conventional rod-driven locomotive is. My Accucraft 3-cylinder Shay pulls ten log cars with wooden logs - not plastic - up a 4.5% grade of a pal’s layout without appearing to notice it at all, and going down the other side is the same…the three-cylinder engine, effectively three Ruby cylinders end to end, will not be rushed.
A Climax or Heisler - also non-linear drive locomotives - would be just the same, a feature that was very useful on the original rough and ready tracks where these beasts operated.
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
I have a Superior which isn’t too bad on the hills.Nowhere near as good as a visiting Roundhouse though…
This is VERY steep…
