Lego Train inclinations

[Haddock51]

As I wrote in an other topic recently (9V Extreme - Power Supply), I am planning to build a large train display with significant inclinations up to 176 cm in total.

I have seen many train videos and pictures, but none showing inclinations of 100 cm plus. Is this still basically an unexplored territory in the Lego Train world?

[UrbanErwin]

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=5338440

I don't know if it is 100cm but it is interesting,

I don't know the username but I've seen this picture on eurobricks before.

[Haddock51]

Very nice pictures Urban! I certainly like the landscape and the MOCs, very nice work indeed!

I was more referring to inclinations with major altitude differences, i.e. 1 meter plus, which requires some advanced architecture and rather sophisticated power supply solutions.

I got some very interesting and useful pieces of advice under "9V Extreme - Power Supply" but I am still eager to see some pictures and videos from similar layouts - type "climbing up the wall"!

[alainneke]

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=5338440

I don't know if it is 100cm but it is interesting,

I don't know the username but I've seen this picture on eurobricks before.

Here you go...

[Haddock51]

Here you go...

That´s a very nice one - and everything in Lego! Looks very stable.

Would be interesting to know the inclination percentage and details about the power supply, not to mention live pictures ...

[zephyr1934]

I've seen a few spirals used to climb 2m, e.g., here. Though I think they typically used light weight trains.

[Locomotive Annie]

I've seen a few spirals used to climb 2m, e.g., here. Though I think they typically used light weight trains.

One word, - WOW!

[Haddock51]

I've seen a few spirals used to climb 2m, e.g., here. Though I think they typically used light weight trains.

Simply fantastic!!!

Any live pictures?

[zephyr1934]

Any live pictures?

The spiral is just something I stumbled on to, I believe it is from legoworld 2002, so if you did some searching you might find a video. I've seen it at least one other time, but I don't remember where.

[Bamos]

The top red spiral if my calculations are correct is between a three and four percent grade, the bottom white spiral is between seven and eight percent grade.

Bill

[Haddock51]

The top red spiral if my calculations are correct is between a three and four percent grade, the bottom white spiral is between seven and eight percent grade.

Bill

Any information on how power supply was managed?

[Bamos]

Haddock51

Jamesp The builder of the first red Helix states that he uses a Digitrax DB 150 3 amp power station /controller ( I am assuming with the volts set to N scale to limit the volts to 10 to 12 ) with an under track bus wire with track feeders every 15 pieces of track.

If You have enough amps you don’t need all the extra things like transformers and controllers used in sync. One power pack or DCC controller with enough power to run the trains you want and one wiring bus with a couple of track feeders is all you need.

Turning wyes and reverse loops will require some special wiring and equipment to work properly.

EDIT Also there may be other ways to achieve what you want instead of 4 short 8 percent grades use one long 2 percent grade hidden behind some buildings or put the whole railroad on grade except for towns to climb to the next level these are called nolixes in model railroading.

Bill

Edited February 28, 2013 by Bamos