Can somebody check my math please?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Help!!

I am planning a rise/incline/slope on my track of five inches in 24 and one-half feet.

That’s five inches in 294 inches (24.5 times 12 = 294).

I divide five by 2.94 because one inch in one hundred inches equals one percent (1%) correct?

Five (5.0) divided by 2.94 is 1.7 … therefore my grade is 1.7% (one point seven).

Do I have that right?

I have a few blind spots when it comes to math.

Thanks!

2

Hey

looks good to me. I just divided 5 by 294 = .017 or 1.7%. [:D]

Have a good day.

Lee

3

Thanks…glad to know I did something right today!! Now I gotta start installing the grade!

4

A plus.

5

hi,

but

did you compensate for vertical easements? The real grade might be a bit tougher…

like five inches in 22 feet. Still less then 2%

Smile
Paul

6

Thanks Paul…what is a vertical easement exactly and how does it change grades?

7

hi

it is the gradual change from the horizontal to a certain grade.

This is just an example…with the sudden change the kinks will cause derailments.

Smile

Paul

BTW I have seen some formula like:

the length of your easement is the length of your longest car for every 2% of change of grade.

So a 6 percent grade would need an easement 3 times the length of your longest car, both at the bottom and at the top. I am not sure about this formula, some other poster might know the right one.

8

best is to use the woodland scenics 1/2 inch riser. They come 4 in a box.

http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/ST1406/page/1

9

http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/ST1406/page/1

Rich

10

Yeah, with firefox the link button isn’t always available for some reason. Links are automatic with windows explorer but it’s slow.

11

Thanks a million Paul…I see exactly what you’re talking about now, and, indeed, I have these vertical easements built into all my grades so my trains don’t derail. I never even gave it a second thought that it would change the actual grade as you have drawn it out, but I see what you mean.

I like the basic formula for the length of the easement; it really makes sense.

On another note, let me say that I was in Amsterdam once and would love to go back to Holland some day. I especially loved the people, and I really want to get back to the Mauritshuis in The Hague.