Trestle math?

Thanks frank.  That kind of concerns me since my favorite locomotives are the big articulated steamers. If I go with a shallower grade the engines will be going back down as soon as they hit the peak. Hmmm

That sounds right, and yes it is steep. Trestle sets can be used for layouts as small as an over/under figure 8 with 027 track with a couple straights added to each end. There lots of 4x8 layouts that use them. You aren't going to run a long train up them.

The grade won't be constant.  It will be less at the ends to allow the engine (especially steam engines) to transition into and out of the grade without the pilot/cow catcher striking the center rail.  This can cause a short or even lift the front of the locomotive off the track.

 

Jan

I used 1/2 the graduated trestle set for a declining deck bridge.  This was spaced out so the grade decreased to 3.8%.

Later replace with a custom deck bridge.

I agree it is too steep. You won't like it.

.....

Dennis

Thank you all for your input it appears as though the consensuses  is that is way too steep which makes me wonder why MTH made it that way. Mike I like the idea using half the Trestle set. a few inches is all I really need see as how there is nothing going underneath of it. The only reason I use the elevated set is because what I am putting together is 6 1/2 feet above the ground and the shelf is 18 inches deep where I put the elevated track.  Only reason I did that is so that you can see the train in the back. When it is laid flat on the shelf you can barely see the top of the locomotive in the back.

I may be way off base, but I think MTH, K-line, and Lionel all use approximatly the same grade for their trestle sets--- all are 4+%. The grade was established by Lionel in the PW era so that an up and over figure 8 could fit on a 4x8 sheet of plywood. Of course, back then engines had MagnaTraction-- so going up a 4+% grade was not a problem. Now, modern era engines with traction tires can make a 4% grade, but only with a few cars---

That 4.7 percent grade was designed for short starter sets and for a guy like me that runs short trains 5 percent is acceptable.

But, most people like to run long trains and in that case 2 percent is as steep as one should go.