Fill / Causeway Slope Percent

[Ian MacMillan]

I read somewhere recently where they had given the "ideal" grade % that fill or causeway sides on railroads should have to prevent erosion. I for the life of me can not find that article. I thought it was in MR or MRP or something like that.

Does anyone know the "ideal" %?

[John]

60?

[davefoxx]

I thought that the ratio was 1:1 or one foot of rise to one foot of run (45 degree angle) in the real world, but in modeling it was okay to cheat the incline to 1.5:1 or 1.5 feet of rise to one foot of run.

[Zox]

I know I have a reference around here somewhere (something by Armstrong, perhaps?) but I can't find it at the moment.

As I recall, the maximum angle of repose for loose fill is usually considered to be 30 degrees (1:2 rise:run), but depending on the fill material may go as high as 45 degrees (1:1).

Personally, I don't use slopes steeper than 1:1 for a dirt-covered hillside--anything steeper would have to start showing exposed rock, as the dirt eroded away.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I know it DEFINITELY depends on the material itself.

[Ian MacMillan]

I know it DEFINITELY depends on the material itself.

Well yeah that I am aware of, but we're talkin your standard "fill" material like dirt and rock no bigger then 8" mix. Not cinders or rip rap.

[CVSNE]

Ian,

I'm almost positive the article you're looking for was in the MR special issue called Realistic Track (or something like that) that came out last year.

It had a Lance Mindheim photo of a CSX diesel on the cover.

The article that talked about fill slopes was by Neal Schorr. It was one of the best articles in the issue (actually, the whole issue was wonderful with only one or two exceptions - likely the reason it's never been mentioned much on internet forums . . .).

Neal discussed right-of-way details like slopes, ballast profiles, pole lines etc . . . and how he applied these on his wonderful O gauge (3-rail) PRR layout. Even with the superfluous third rail, Neal's layout has some of the best right-of-way modeling you'll ever see.

Marty

[Ian MacMillan]

Ian,

I'm almost positive the article you're looking for was in the MR special issue called Realistic Track (or something like that) that came out last year.

It had a Lance Mindheim photo of a CSX diesel on the cover.

The article that talked about fill slopes was by Neal Schorr. It was one of the best articles in the issue (actually, the whole issue was wonderful with only one or two exceptions - likely the reason it's never been mentioned much on internet forums . . .).

Neal discussed right-of-way details like slopes, ballast profiles, pole lines etc . . . and how he applied these on his wonderful O gauge (3-rail) PRR layout. Even with the superfluous third rail, Neal's layout has some of the best right-of-way modeling you'll ever see.

Marty

Thanks Marty. Our minds must be on the same track as I went looking for that issue last night and found it in my locker at work (Sometimes it gets boring on the road), and Neal indeed has it at 30%.

I've made some scrapwood templates to help in the scenery process.

[conrail98]

Ian,

See if you can get a hold of any of CR's standard plans. I know there are some roadway plans at http://multimodalways.org/archives/rrs/CR/CR%20Standard%20Plans/CR%20Standard%20Plans.html but I also thought the CR modeler group on Yahoo has some that may be dated later than 1976.

Phil

[Ian MacMillan]

Ian,

See if you can get a hold of any of CR's standard plans. I know there are some roadway plans at http://multimodalways.org/archives/rrs/CR/CR%20Standard%20Plans/CR%20Standard%20Plans.html but I also thought the CR modeler group on Yahoo has some that may be dated later than 1976.

Phil

I'll have to check that out. I'm also trying to get a hold of one of the guys in our trackcar club that has a B&M standards book.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Hey Ian, did you ever find that info from the B&M standards book?