If you read the history of the Unitah Railroad, the author talks about the tight curves and the special engines used for the negotiation of those curves. The LGB Unitah engine has very good pulling power on the tight curves and steep grades on the KVRwy’s Owl’s Bend Mine. Having an engine to get out of those tight spots to more reasonable trackage, has been a very good solution.
For filling in the space:
It just seems to me you don’t want to stand beside your railroad and look at it, you want to be INSIDE your layout. IN the garden, not stuck outside.
So allocate the perimeter of your property to the railroad and use your huge diameter curves to go around the viewing area, then fill the interior with lawn, patio, gazebo, or whatever you like. Pool perhaps? Flower gardens?
Now, you don’t have all that vast space to landscape.
Disclaimer: I haven’t had any place for a garden in 12 years. I’ve been in large scale about 10 or 11 years.
When I thought I was going to get a house, I thought about a folded dogbone with a circle in the north part, and another in the south, and the “double track” running around the back yard. Didn’t get a house. Lost the job instead.
G-Gauge speedometers for sale.
Hi Guys,
I would like to thank everyone who replied to my post, very helpful.
Another concern I have is grades. After reading on MLS about a UK member running trains on a 10% grade I checked my area and it works out to a 5% grade. I will be running rod engines and most likely some double headers.
Anyone running on steep graders, 3 to 5% how is it working out for you??
Thanks Chuck
Hi Chuck,
I have one switch back in the basement that is a 10.6% grade for a short distance, Geared engines are usually used here and train limits are just two or three cars.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/rgolding/071104%20007.jpg)
The area below the stationary engine, that is being prepped to be lifted into the future power plant is the steepest. Denny Karner negotiates the Climax down to the switch back trackage, out of the picture right in front of him to the left, and is headed for the Timesaver at the John Allan Industrial Park, which is out of the picture to the right, during the 2007 Fall Ops Session.
Even railroads like the EBT had real steep grades in some areas, like the top of the coal tipple in the Rock Hill Furnace yard.
Hi Rick,
Just to be clear, my overall grade is or will be 5% on the layout.
Chuck
Slow speeds, geared engines and very controlled ops. It can be done. Not on the main line or for “roundy round” running.
I have a ruling grade of 4% on my mainline. It is steep, but it was as low as I could get it. It works fine for me. I don’t ever run very long trains and if I do I add a helper.
I will say that we have a 6% grade on the Black Hills Central. Its standard gauge track, but is located on a former branch line. The 2-6-6-2 that runs on it now, along with the other 2-6-2, do have to work a lot to get up the hill.
Roughly 4% on mine. 150 feet of it.
ONE original BachShay, unassisted, 28-34 loads up the entire grade.
Dry track.
OLD aluminium rail.
Clapped out drivers.
Use slicker rail or new tyres, no way, hoe say.
I once put new wheels on my Shay, oh, 12 years or so ago, instantly 12 cars max up the same grade.
My mains were laid out over 20 years ago with 6’8" radius.
Handles most things with ease.
TOC
I have about a 4.8 percent grade and keep the trains short. Even the 0-4-0 climbs it.
I like using the battery Shay on the upper Y and for train sorting. I have a siding that I use for train assembly.
Makes for nice operations.