Hi all It has been awhile since i last posted. Had a set back couldn’t start my layout as plan…
I know this subject is been widely talked about. But…
I am building a logging layout still working on a track plan. but I am basing my layout on the,1880 Saco valley railroad which was a one engine logging line. that had 6 miles of track at 61/2 percent grade along the whole route. Unfortunately I only have a 2’6" by 5’6" bench work. here is problem I do not own a steam engine. I only own one engine beings I am just starting back in the hobby. and My first time in N scale. But i was planing on buying a shay anyone know what the radii for a N scale shay is. at the moment i have a gp15 diesel. I wanted to go with 9 3/4 radii on my tightest areas. and 11 on my mainline loop.
My main question is, is 6% grade with 9 3/4 radii to much. I know I won’t be pulling long trains. i’m trying to keep this prototypical the best i can in the space i have. And I know that the radii on the saco valley did have a few tight curves.
I have seen the possum valley layout and was thinking on a track plan similar to it. but just wanted to get other opinions… and possible views… thanks in advance…
In blue font above, I have finished your question as it should be written, if you won’t be offended. And that’s the rub; your engine is the determinant of what will and what will not work. We can’t help you do more than ball-park it, and we’ll tell you that a single scale locomotive pulling much more than its shadow on steep grades including tight curves is going to be iffy at best. The point is, you must somehow find someone with the locomotive to test it empirically…by trails. Or, if you already have it, mock up the curved grade, attach the cars your prototype had, and see what it will do.
Crandell
Thanks. I don’t have the engine i want. But what i was thinking about was modifying my gp15 into a climax and turning it into a box engine. like some railroads had done to their climaxes to stay out of the weather… not sure how really to explain it.
But getting back on subject. I plan on leaving the layout open for future expansion. I mean I am not worried about pulling trains 10 cars or more… I know the steeper the grade the less load you can haul. I’m just ball parking at the moment myself. Even if i stay at max grade of 4% I’m just trying to get a ball park idea so i can experiment. I mean this isn’t something that I am worried if i screw up. It’s really a learning curve for me. and also just something I can learn as far as scratch building. So This really is just a experiment layout.
If that helps.
A smallish engine in N scale on a 4% grade will probably max out at about 4 hoppers or flatcars with logs if they are properly weighted and relatively free-rolling. That’s the best guess I have.
Crandell
a 6 percent grade is quite a bit and 9.75" R curves are pretty tight. the GP15-1 is a pretty beefy engine but at a steep grade like that you may be limited to one or two cars. My BN GP15-1 worked flawlessly on my previous N scale layout and the track work on that was atrocious.
Are you sure you wouldn’t want a flat logging yard where trucks go up and down the grade to retrieve the logs, then load the logs onto the train?
Atlas has also released Shay locomotives in N, I can’t seem to find any for sale though.
From my experience, anytime you go above 5% you are pushing it. 9 3/4 will barely work with the Atlas shay but I would go 12" or as close to that as you can since I have seen them run but that is not the currant batch so things may have changed.
Well i have always been a diesel kinda a guy… But i wanted to try my hand at steam. and do a 1890 - 1910 era. but the plan i am working on i haven’t even tried to figure the grade yet. Beings i am using xtrkcad I can find the grade lastly once i get an idea of what i want. and work from their. so i might not go so steep on the grade. But also on the possum valley layout by Jean-Louis Simone and he’s got 9 3/4 radii with 6% grade. but i notice he pulls only 4 cars. But beings this is my first N scale layout I am just trying to get info… and suggestions. [:)]
RRebell I wish i could go up to 12" inch but i was thinking of doing a three level grade to get to the top. and 12" radii will take up the whole layout just in circles. I thought about switchbacks but I am not really into them. and beings the real railroad i am modeling didn’t have one i want to keep it out. i was thinking of maybe 10 inch radii or 10 1/2 so it’s not as tight as 9 3/4 and still got room to play with, what do you guys think of that? I know the grade won’t be as steep…
well I have to commend you for being braver than I was when it came to my first N scale layout. what’s the road power on the referenced layout, also are there any photos of it?
Gidday, Crandell has already touched upon it, but as a even easier trial would be to lay a straight length of track on a board and see for yourself what your locomotive will handle. Just remember that a curve on a grade will further detract from the locos performance.
Like your idea about using your GP chassis and running gear to build a Climax A body on.
Good luck and Have Fun.
Cheers, the Bear.
You could also take the plunge,so to speak and make the grades,cog rail…
Cheers,
Frank
No i don’t have photo’s yet. i’m still figuring out my track plan… and on the possum valley he used shays and not sure if he had anything else. But i figured from all the research i have done on logging lines. from back then their really wasn’t a standard of what they did. their grades and curves where unprototypical compared to today standards. but i do know that i can’t get away with half of what they did. beings the scale engines don’t have the suspension that the real ones do. [:P] But I like to experiment. you don’t learn unless you do.
Jabear yeah it’s going to take a lot of modifying on the GP chassis beings it’s done by atlas. i have to trim the fuel tanks… and weight. but that’s a future project I’m probably going to do my own metal casting… to build the frame and weight. But part of the hobby is trying new things and learning… but that project will be for a later time…