How many of you build turnouts on a grade?

I have a grade that is a curve that starts and ends with turnouts.  The grade rises about 9 inches in 12 feet.  I eased the grade both starting and ending.  Works fine for my layout.

A turnout on a grade should not be a problem if the grade is continuous through the grade.     I think it would be a problem if the grade changed/started/ended under the turnout.

I'm currently looking at new iteration of my layout that'll have AtlasO #5 crossover an a 3+% grade.  I'm not expecting any problems.

Jan

I don't think there's anything wrong with placing a turnout on a grade, as long as it is constant over all three legs. I have turnouts in both of my helixes, and they work flawlessly. Grades range from 2 to 3.5%. I wouldn't try a vertical transition on a switch. That could be problematic.

For optimal results involving turnouts, they should be in a flat level area. The tracks extending from the turnout in every direction should be in a flat level area. Even in real life, at times turnouts were put at places that were not ideal because of necessity. Unfortunately, I had to put a couple of my turnouts on grades on my layouts out of necessity. Fortunately, I have not suffered excessively. However, I have had more issues at those turnouts than any of the other ones in flat level areas. I would not recommend putting a turnout anywhere but a flat level area. It is entirely up to you.

I have five turnouts on a 1 1/2 percent grade. The two at the transition point at the top of the grade form a reversing loop and transition from two track main to a single track on the R loop. Very little in the way of problems with this. I should mention these are not turnouts that I built, these are actually AC Gilbert S gauge switches.

Ray

Thanks for the comments and discussion everyone!  In my planning, I have tried to keep all turnouts level, thinking that was the more conservative standard,   But I am now concluding that for modest grades, it make sense to continue a grade across a turnout rather than have grade transitions at the three ends of a turnout.   --Ken

I've done that in the past.  Not a good idea.  One switch was part of a cross-over positioned at the top of hill.  It never worked correctly.

Don't do it if at all possible.

George

George, you mean your experience with a turnout on a grade was a problem, or the level turnout?

Ken,

Maybe a picture will help.  The turnout in the photo will have a mate to the left.  The two never worked well, for whatever reason.  I finally decided to take trains up and down the grade using the straight-leg track at the bottom of the photo.  The whole concept was flawed and made assumptions about track performance that simply weren't valid.

George

Thanks much George.  Looks like Gargraves track?   

So you ran the grade through the straight leg of the turnout, but then had problems taking the diverging route?   Sorry, I am still confused on that important point. 

Your grade looks pretty steep, do you know what the grade is?

Looks like carpet padding under the track for sound deadening. I do the same thing, works better than anything. Mines not ballasted yet, I hope ballasting doesn't ruin it.