4% grade

Hard to say without testing but a 4% is steep in any language when prototypes try to stay under 2%. On my previous layout I had a 2% grade with 18 inch radius and it took two Atlas GP 40 locos to pull twenty cars up the slope. I did have a couple of instances where cars got pulled off the track near the front of the train because of the weight of the following cars.
 
Most of the grades on my layout are 4% (in real life here the ruling grade is 5.1%). I have a Atlas B23-7 with a Model Power C-420 shell on it. It will pull about 10-15 cars up it from a rolling start, from a standing start about 4 to 7. All my cars are weighted although my open hoppers are not as heavy as it's hard to find places in em' to put the weight :( , which is why the amount of cars can vary.
 
I'm no physicist but I imagine a 4% straight track wouldn't be bad but the curve throws...well, a curve into it! I'd expect occasional derailments. Are you hoping to raise the track high enough to pass over another with that grade?
Ralph
 
Thank you all for reply.
According to Tyson it should be O.K.
And yes Ralph I hope to raise the track enough to pass over another one.
I plan to build the "Granite, Gorge and Northern" from John Armstrong in a 3'10"" by 7' 6" in N-scale.

Paul
 
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