What is a switch-back? Isnt it useed to gain elevation?, If so how are they designed? ------------------ CSX and HO Scale The Newark Branch RR Ship it the good 'ole way, BY RAIL http://homestead.juno.com/huntertjo
ok A switch back is a set of switches used to help a train gain elevation while cutting the mileage. Ok lets say a C class 3 truck shay(cass railroad #5 for Ex.) wants to get to logging camp[ #4, but the camp is on top of spruce Knob, #5 would travel x- number of mjiles ti the first switch pull the train past it and switch tracks,then it would Push the train back around the mountain partway stop, throw another switch and pull the train up to the next swithc untill it reaches the camp. once the logs are loaded the operation in reversed. The switches are ususally standard types. Although most shortling logging railroad such as Cass Railroad here in my state have no particular radius of turn of switch. If you get a good shay engine, you could possibly negotiate 12 degrees or maybe tighter. Got it? ------------------ TrainBoard.com MEMBER#204 THE WEB PAGE IS NOW UPDATED!! Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad "QUALITY at WORK with SAFTEY in MIND"
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by wt&c: Got it? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Yep Thanks for the help. ------------------ CSX and HO Scale The Newark Branch RR Ship it the good 'ole way, BY RAIL http://homestead.juno.com/huntertjo
The McCloud River RR in McCloud, California has a switchback located on the line from McCloud to Mt. Shasta City (on the southern flank of Mt. Shasta). They also have a runaround spur located at that junction and used to have a turntable there as well for the helper locos (you can still see the turntable pit). ------------------ Bill (#16) "Get Goosed on the Yreka Western"
Saludamtn, do you mean you need a switchback at the end of your terminal yard in order to gain elevation? It can be done. ------------------ Watash #982 "See you in the Pit"
nbrr2000, what happened about your switchbacks? You know that the switch needs to be level, then the grade up to the next switch is not required to be steep, it can be what ever is convenient for the space you have so you can gain some height and yet become level again at the next switch. Looking at the switchbacks from a distance, they would look like a ladder, or more like a road with hair-pin turns weaving back and forth up the side of a hill or mountain. Saludamtn, what did you mean to get a switchback out of your terminal? Do you have a switchback inside your terminal? I made a smart remark about the Big Boy, because I thought you were going to give us some more details about what a switchback has to do with your terminal. Out in New Mexico, there was an engine shed where the track went out a few hundred feet then went up about a 3% grade to a switchback, up again, and on up to a fairly flat level area and continued on from there. I thought that sort of thing was what you had in mind. Tell us about it.
This is my switchback, the climax on the trestle going down grade will eventually end up where the shay is now. I just hope the shay gets out of the way first.
That is a great scene Paul! I like the detail of the tressle and rocks. The detailing on both engines is very realistic, and the shrubery looks right in place. You have done an excellent job. My hat is off to you!! Excellent modeling!
Thanks watash for your very kind remarks, You should have seen my first go at making scenery back in the 1950's, you would have had a laugh at that. cheers Paul http://www.badger-creek.co.uk
Paul, I never ridicule a person's workmanship! It can discourage his future attempts. Remember the old saying:"If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all!" I try to live by that, and look for those things worth complimenting about as encouragement to bolster additional attempts toward achievement. Too many people are quick to belittle today, and too few bother to compliment. I mean what I say, or I keep quiet.
Hey man, James J. Hill of the Great Northern used switchbacks, I think 7 miles of them, to complete a line in comptetition with other rr's for a transcontinental rr. His company , GN, later built the Cascade tunnel to eliminate the switchbacks. To move 7 cars, 3 locos were needed..... Then came the tunnel.
Back in the 1930's we took a vacation to Leadville, Colorado. One afternoon, we watched as two steamengines on the front, one in the middle, and two in back pulled 14 lead ore cars out of Leadville up over the pass to take them down to the smelter. That was one heavy load!
Watash, 14 lead ore cars???? damn right that was one heavy load!!!!! On my home layout i'm pushing the limits on grades. I don't run switchbacks right now (but thinking of one tho for my new brass Shay tho) but anyway the first and lowest level of my layout is the bottom one (base) and I have a 17 almost 18 foot long climb on a siding type thing to make the climb up to my second level at 10 inches above the bottom level. So I rise 10 inches in almost 18 foot. What grade persent would that be? And my Mallets are used here. and do a fine job to at it. I once and awhile couple 2 Big Sixes together to pull up grade. (Big Sixes are the B&O S-1's and S-1a's 2-10-2). And they pull just like a real loco would but I think that grade is pushing the issue. See on the lowest level of my layout I modeled the "Sand Patch Grade" for the B&O from Cumberland to Connelsville, and the Big Mt. Savage Tunnel grade for the Western Maryland. I have mountains all the way around. And to get my second level up to the levelest part of the second level I had to raise it and try as much as possible to limit the *hugh jump* act I wanted it to look decent but still meet what I needed. So really I have a 8x16, and 8x14 "L" shaped layout with 3 different levels the second level to the 3rd level isn't bad though. It raises 6 inches in 6 foot. All straight track, but the one i'm asking about has one curve in it to extend the lenght to the rise. I done a picture last november of 3 EM-1's pulling, (like a picture in the B&O Power book) and 2 EL-5a's pushing 38 loaded coal cars up grade on it and WOW what a sight. It was the first time I ever reacted actual B&O history, and I do it now alot for friends that visit and people who bring me items to work on that appreciate a little chat on different things about Model Railroading. And when they see that its like, are all those engines actually working or what? And my reply is YES they have to to pull that amount of cars up that steep grade and its just a twisted thing on my layout that is different and original. But the whole grade isn't visable tho it disapears different times to reveal that the train is actually making the grade without slipage or problems. ~John. [ 10 March 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Oh, and one other thing as the whole train is on the grade the engines are running just like a real one would!! Because of the momentum controls I use its at a slower speed and in realality all the engines aren't actually working hard it just looks it by the momentum control turning the power consumption down and slowing the engines in electrical consumption. And the great part, that I worried about was over heating the motors but not once did I get hot motors from that!!!!!! Woo Whoooo! Gotta love those flywheels and syncrinized dual motors and dual flywheels that I installed!!!! [ 10 March 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ] [ 10 March 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
Paul, I love the Shay and Climax photo, Great modeling work!!!!!! Thats kinda the same idea of what I talked about on my grade, only with a bunch of mallets doing the work!!!! That preticular grade on my layout I nick named it "Making the impossible grade by the B&O" And once I get enough Western Maryland i'm going to reproduce it again with them pulling their hearts out!!!! My local Model Railroader club that i'm in is all for the Western Maryland and the B&O. And they loved the B&O photographs I took of it and now i'm gonna do it again with Western Maryland Motive Power. I may even do a video of it for them one day!!!!! ~John
7600EM-1, the grade is .8202% so is less than 1% (1 foot rise in 100 feet). Do be careful if you are running engines with rubber tires on the drivers, and especially if they happen to be Rivarossi 4-8-8-4's!! One guy bought a brand new one, took it to his club and they kept hooking more and more cars on it to see how many it would pull up a 1-1/2% grade. The engine finally stalled. As the fellows were walking up toward the engine there was no smoke, but when they got there, the whole top of the boiler had melted and caved in on top of the motors! It was because the rubber tires would not allow the drivers to slip, or spin, and the hot motors melted the plastic boiler. It was a total loss on its maiden voyage! That's why I hate rubber tires on any engine, and there are other reasons too.
