Maximum grade question (Z scale)

[Jesse6669]

I'm considering adding a short curved grade, about 1.5ft with 0.5in elevation gain which work out to around 2.8% grade.  I wouldn't be pulling long trains over this, just 4-5 cars (per loco) typically.  Will the AZL locos (most of the roster) be able to handle this?

I can leave it off and make the grade 0% (which I originally intended for simplicity's sake) but it's more prototypical with the grade, which actually is about 1.5%.

[Rivet Miscounter]

What is the radius of the curve?   I would be inclined (no pun intended) to test it with the closest radii Rokuhan/sectional track you have.

If I were to guess I'd say you're probably ok.  Worst case might be the difference between 4 and 5 cars.

[mark.hinds]

You can test it yourself, if you already own the rolling stock. 

Just mock up some temporary track in the configuration that concerns you, and test it.  For example, I mocked up a curve using flex track, and measured the overhang of my equipment, in order to determine clearances for double track and track-side objects.  Many years ago, I did the same for grades, rail expansion with temperature, etc. 

MH

[jargonlet]

I used to have a layout with a 2% grade and roughly 11" radii.  I ran a pair of AZL SD70 and 20 coal hoppers up it at a creep. If I remember correctly, I could get at least half or maybe even all of it up the grade with one loco at a reasonable speed.

[Jesse6669]

You can test it yourself, if you already own the rolling stock. 

Just mock up some temporary track in the configuration that concerns you, and test it.
MH

Yep, that's my next step, was just curious what the consensus was--  here's the section highlighted in yellow.  I'd say it's about a 10" radius curve.

[thomasjmdavis]

I'm considering adding a short curved grade, about 1.5ft with 0.5in elevation gain which work out to around 2.8% grade.  I wouldn't be pulling long trains over this, just 4-5 cars (per loco) typically.  Will the AZL locos (most of the roster) be able to handle this?

I can leave it off and make the grade 0% (which I originally intended for simplicity's sake) but it's more prototypical with the grade, which actually is about 1.5%.

I'm curious... if the actual grade is 1.5%, why not make the layout grade 1.5%?  After all, you are doing this because the grade is "more prototypical" than flat, but your proposed grade is 1.3% greater than prototypical, not that much different than the 1.5% difference between flat and prototypical.

[Jesse6669]

I'm curious... if the actual grade is 1.5%, why not make the layout grade 1.5%?  After all, you are doing this because the grade is "more prototypical" than flat, but your proposed grade is 1.3% greater than prototypical, not that much different than the 1.5% difference between flat and prototypical.

Ahh.. because the base/substrate as planned is 1/2" foam.  My idea was to just attach the track on the B&O SW and lower elevation areas directly to the wood of the module.  Now if I'd been smart and used 1/4" foam, that would work out to be just about exactly 1.4%..  so: Plan B is to attach 1/4" foam on top of the 1/2" on the McCullough Yard area, and keep 1/2" on all the rest.  I just don't like creating so many layers--but it does keep the foam in place throughout the layout for scenery removal (ie. GK Tower, Zumbeil, etc) or adding drainage ditches below grade.

[mmagliaro]

I see issues with the particular location of the grade, rather than the grade percentage itself. 
The grade starts on a turnout and ends at the top out of a curve before another turnout.  Those are already
risk factors for derailments.

Are you factoring in transitions at the bottom and top so they aren't just sharp vertical "knees" in the trackwork?  And if so, that means the start and end of the grade have to be more gradual, and your center section might be even steeper than you planned.

The low end starts on a turnout, and the diverging route of that turnout is gray, so I assume it is not elevated.  How does that work with non-diverging leg supposedly rising on the grade, but the diverging leg flat?   It's tricky enough having a turnout on a grade, but having a turnout that isn't uniformly flat across all 3 legs is a derailment risk.

Finally, if your answer to all this is that it's just a half-inch rise, and it's a short grade, and you only plan to run short trains, so you figure you can just "get away" without worrying about these details, I disagree.  This looks like a recipe for pain when operating the trains.  At the very very least, I would use the multiple layers of foam you discussed and reduce the grade to the 1/4" rise.