Here’s what I use to set my grades. This is about as simple as it comes.
(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff403/dave2-8-0/Levals-1.jpg)
The length is 20" long, thats 1/5 th the 100" used as a percentage for grade. a 3% grade has a rise of .6" for 20" of run. I found that using a 4 ft level was hard to handle and I couldn’t get grades correct on the curves, Which i have many and constantly on the Mountain division. I drive a stake in the roadbed at desired height, set the raised end on the 1st stake and drive the next stake at the other end, set it to the depth until the level is level. Repeat.
(http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff403/dave2-8-0/Levals-2.jpg)
Flip it over for the level sections.