raised track questions

[londonboi1985]

Hello all hope your having a nice weekend

Just built my base board its 8ftx5'3ft for my layout I have the peco track plan book I am going to build layout on page 22/23 godrington sands layout
As it has all the room In the middle I am going to add to this however I want to have a raised track section I have two questions for this below

What is a good standard height to have a raised track height on n gauge and what is best way distance to achieve a smooth rise and decent from start to finish ie the gradient

Hope this makes sense

[Lawrence]

You can go as high as you like  but try and stick to a ratio of 1:30, that means for every inch (or cm) you go up, you must allow 30inches (or cm) of track length (or 1:40 on curves.

So if you wanted to raise your track 3 cm on the straight, ideally you would want 90cm of track.  These are ideal situations and will depend on rolling stock etc, but if you try to give yourself as smooth a run as possible it will save you many headaches in the future

[Mustermark]

I believe the standard between rail top and the underneath of the bridge above should be at least 31mm.  The gap between top of the rolling stock and the underside of the bridge above is at least 2mm.

I made my clearances 35mm from rail top to underside of the sleepers above, allowing a mm or two for bridge supports etc.  This seems to work well.

I also allowed about 4 feet for the slope up.  That works out at about 1:38 and none of my locos struggle - but they are all diesel, my steamers don't do well on the flat!  I think Lawence is correct with his ratios 1:30 minimum on straights and 1:40 on curves.  So your 8ft length will be great for that.

I had a search for the page I found when researching platform heights, couldn't find it but found this instead...

http://www.worcsngauge.co.uk/NStandards.htm

Also, I did a quick search (just typed 'gradient' in) on the forum and found these, which may help too...

http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=529.0
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=787.0
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=604.0

[EtchedPixels]

Hello all hope your having a nice weekend

Just built my base board its 8ftx5'3ft for my layout I have the peco track plan book I am going to build layout on page 22/23 godrington sands layout
As it has all the room In the middle I am going to add to this however I want to have a raised track section I have two questions for this below

What is a good standard height to have a raised track height on n gauge and what is best way distance to achieve a smooth rise and decent from start to finish ie the gradient

Hope this makes sense

A good rule of thumb for steam is 1 in 50, less steep on curves and in all cases allow for three things
- you need a transition as the gradient changes, not an abrupt change so that takes a bit more space
- remember if using set-track that the angled track is longer because it goes up and down than that flat track, so you may need some flex to join it up nicely again (esp if building things like a flyover)
- you need to allow for the thickness of track and the supporting wood for the raised section in your gradients to pass one over the other
 (also for pantographs if running overhead).

If you've not already built a big layout of that form then before adding to the centre I'd also try the reach exercise - loosely lay the furthest out track, put boxes and the like on the nearest edges to simulate scenery and the raised section, and attempt to clean the track furthest out without hitting the boxes and also clean the areas just behind the raised trackwork. That will tell you where you may have problems with access or one thing screening another.

Alan

[Mustermark]

- you need a transition as the gradient changes, not an abrupt change so that takes a bit more space

If you've not already built a big layout of that form then before adding to the centre I'd also try the reach exercise

Excellent points EP!

[Newportnobby]

This link may be of help
http://www.elginmodelrailwayclub.co.uk/2010/advice/dimensions/standard-railway-modelling-dimmensions.html

[londonboi1985]

Thanks for the advice with rregards reaching the areas I have accesss hatches that I have cut out that are not getting aany track so thought that well in advance

[Mustermark]

This link may be of help
http://www.elginmodelrailwayclub.co.uk/2010/advice/dimensions/standard-railway-modelling-dimmensions.html

Excellent find newportnobby.  Great reference.  Is there somewhere we can post that link so it isn't buried in an old topic???

[Newportnobby]

This link may be of help
http://www.elginmodelrailwayclub.co.uk/2010/advice/dimensions/standard-railway-modelling-dimmensions.html

Excellent find newportnobby.  Great reference.  Is there somewhere we can post that link so it isn't buried in an old topic???

Not my find, I have to confess. Somebody else (Poliss?) posted it in a thread which I think was about cork underlay for track and whether buildings should have underlay or 'carpet' the baseboard with it. I'll see if I can track (no pun intended) it down