Degree of grade for curved track
Moderators: Glenn Brooks, Harold_V
Forum rules
Topics may include: antique park gauge train restoration, preservation, and history; building new grand scale equipment from scratch; large scale miniature railway construction, maintenance, and safe operation; fallen flags; track, gauge, and equipment standards; grand scale vendor offerings; and, compiling an on-line motive power roster.
Topics may include: antique park gauge train restoration, preservation, and history; building new grand scale equipment from scratch; large scale miniature railway construction, maintenance, and safe operation; fallen flags; track, gauge, and equipment standards; grand scale vendor offerings; and, compiling an on-line motive power roster.
-
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Sun May 30, 2021 3:17 pm
Degree of grade for curved track
We are rebuilding a 2 ft. gauge track. What degree of angle across the 24" should it be? I hope I am asking the correct way. Should the outside rail be about .25" higher that the inside rail? We operate at low speeds.
Re: Degree of grade for curved track
Your correct term would be 'super-elevation' aka banking the curve like higher speed roads. Depending on the speed, it would change. Many feel that for model tracks, the speed is low enough to not require it. The other consideration is that if you have super-elevation on a curve, decide to stop on that curve, you are tipping a bit. Depending on the cars, loads, or riders, this could be a problem if you have any significant super-elevation.
-ken cameron
Syracuse Model Railroad Club http://www.SyracuseModelRr.org/
CNY Modelers http://www.cnymod.com/
Finger Lakes Live Steamers http://www.fingerlakeslivesteamers.org/
Member JMRI Developer Team http://www.jmri.org/
mailto: kcameron@twcny.rr.com
In the Upstate New York US area of the world
Syracuse Model Railroad Club http://www.SyracuseModelRr.org/
CNY Modelers http://www.cnymod.com/
Finger Lakes Live Steamers http://www.fingerlakeslivesteamers.org/
Member JMRI Developer Team http://www.jmri.org/
mailto: kcameron@twcny.rr.com
In the Upstate New York US area of the world
Re: Degree of grade for curved track
I would lay the track with minimal (1/8") to zero "super-elevation" or banking. Real railroads add this to their lines because it allows them to move 1000's of tons of freight and passenger trains trough curves at high speeds.
- Erskine Tramway
- Posts: 390
- Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 4:13 pm
- Location: South Dakota
- Contact:
Re: Degree of grade for curved track
We had a speed restriction of 50 mph on Moorcroft Hill, account they couldn't superelevate for the otherwise 60 mph track speed. If they'd done the higher super for the mtys, the coal trains going up the hill at 10-15 mph would have been leaning over too far. When I rode the Southern Crescent from Birmingham to DC, the Conductor told me the same thing, though in their case they couldn't super for passenger speeds account the tri-level auto racks would be leaning over too far.
On a 'riding' scale railroad, you're not likely to be running fast enough for it to matter.
Mike
On a 'riding' scale railroad, you're not likely to be running fast enough for it to matter.
Mike
Former Locomotive Engineer and Designer, Sandley Light Railway Equipment Works, Inc. and Riverside & Great Northern Railway 1962-77
BN RR Locomotive Engineer 1977-2014, Retired
BN RR Locomotive Engineer 1977-2014, Retired
Re: Degree of grade for curved track
Riding scale cars have very high centers-of-gravity relative to the equipment's physical size. Whatever benefit superelevated ("banked") track might offer would be negated by increased tipsiness on curves due to the bulk of a car's mass (the passengers) possibly being over or inside the inside rail of the curve. The reality is most such railroads are not run anywhere near a speed where a banked curve is of any value. I would lay the track as flat as possible, with no more than 1/8" height difference between inside and outside rails in a curve.Springhill-RR wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 8:03 pmWe are rebuilding a 2 ft. gauge track. What degree of angle across the 24" should it be? I hope I am asking the correct way. Should the outside rail be about .25" higher that the inside rail? We operate at low speeds.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Music isn’t at all difficult. All you gotta do is play the right notes at the right time!
Music isn’t at all difficult. All you gotta do is play the right notes at the right time!
-
- Posts: 809
- Joined: Wed May 31, 2006 2:13 pm
- Location: Laguna Niguel CA
Re: Degree of grade for curved track
I agree, just keep it flat. One benefit is that you will not need to remember how much super-elevation you have in each curve. Just need a level, no measuring, or shims, etc. Easy-peasy!
Re: Degree of grade for curved track
One guide I use the bubble in the level. I go for anything that hits between center and touching the outside line. Idea is to be flat or if anything, a hair high on the outside of the curve, never high on the inside of the curve.
-ken cameron
Syracuse Model Railroad Club http://www.SyracuseModelRr.org/
CNY Modelers http://www.cnymod.com/
Finger Lakes Live Steamers http://www.fingerlakeslivesteamers.org/
Member JMRI Developer Team http://www.jmri.org/
mailto: kcameron@twcny.rr.com
In the Upstate New York US area of the world
Syracuse Model Railroad Club http://www.SyracuseModelRr.org/
CNY Modelers http://www.cnymod.com/
Finger Lakes Live Steamers http://www.fingerlakeslivesteamers.org/
Member JMRI Developer Team http://www.jmri.org/
mailto: kcameron@twcny.rr.com
In the Upstate New York US area of the world
-
- Posts: 1760
- Joined: Sat Dec 21, 2002 12:16 am
- Location: Green Bay Wisconsin USA
- Contact:
Re: Degree of grade for curved track
Its a function or Track Radius, as well as anticipated train speed
Larger radius tracks need less
Rich
Larger radius tracks need less
Rich