Minimum Distance?

[tetters]

Hi guys. After searching the threads regarding elevation and grades percentages for layout design, I still cannot wrap my head around the numbers. ops:

What I am looking for is the minimum distance allowable to get a 1-2% grade up to a whopping 1/2 inch elevation. I imagine it cannot be that far of a run.

 

[MasonJar]

1% is 1 inch of rise (height) in 100 inches of run (length). 2% is 2"/100".

Therefore, to go up 1/2" @ 1% requires 50 inches of run; @ 2%, it requires 25" of run.

The formula is grade% = rise/run x 100. You can solve for any one part, as long as you know the other two.

Hope that helps.

Andrew

 

[tetters]

Big help. Thanks Andrew!

 

[MasonJar]

No problem.

Andrew

 

[tetters]

I just wanted to make sure I had enough room to elevate the track work behind my yard. Just to make it a tad more visible. I've got about a 2' 6" of straight run before a turnout. I'd like the elevation to occur before then. I was trying to keep it to a 2% grade at most.

 

[stuart_canada]

i find if you raise it a 1/4 inch per running foot it is a nice smooth grade, but you could go 1/2 per running foot .....it is anot as smooth but it works

 

[60103]

You also need to put a bit of a curve at the top and bottom of the grade. Usually you can do it by fastening the roadbed down flat at both ends and letting the bit in between take a natural curve. To get you grade, you may have to allow a bit more length at each end.