BritMod-00 Module: The Incline

[Corbs]

I'm mainly just writing this down to give me to impetus to actually make it one of these days, but it's an idea I've had rolling around for a while.

 

The initial plan is to have a dead straight main line, but with a height change along it's length, to challenge locos to make it up (and down) the bank.

 

It might be wise to make this a double track module, to allow for more flexibility (ascending trains will likely be going slowly, after all).

 

My thinking was to either make this two modules, a hill with an up and down section, or make one and supply a way of adapting further modules to the new height.

 

The big gimmick I had thought of was to have a siding at the bottom of the incline, with a coal/water point at which to stable a banker, possibly a Battery Powered Radio Controlled loco with no couplings so it can assist any train up the incline.*

 

* I guess another option would be to have weighted match trucks that have different couplers on, that the banker can select depending on the train that needs assistance.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

[Dungrange]

I suppose this could be interesting, but I'm not convinced that we need another height standard.  We already have both single and double track ends.  Adding two different height variations would increase the interface permutations by a factor of two and make it more challenging to arrange small meets, unless a number of participants were willing to create two different sets of legs: one to the 'low' standard and one to the 'high' standard.  I'm not sure of the origin / justification for the current height specification.

 

In a modular concept, I would only see this working if you were producing both the up and down modules, which would effectively be paired.  Perhaps you could then have an elevated (or lowered) module in between, which would be at your own custom height, but with a standard height track at right angles, which would effectively allow a grade separated crossing.

[teetrix]

Interesting idea!  You can use standard modules for the incline itself (if they not carry anything straight vertical :-) ).Only the two modules for the transition from plain track to incline wouldn't match the standard.

 

But maybe it would need more space than expected. To be at the safe side, I would take a length of a yard (say length of PECO flexible track) for an inch of height difference. Two yards are needed at least for a smooth transistion in and from the incline. To overcome 6 inches you would need 8 yards... And any different height needs another angle for the transition modules, unless you can provide a certain amount of flexibility.

 

I would love to see it, because it's a long dream of me to have a really long incline with banking locos, all the operational features etc... But IMHO there are many things with higher priority. 

 

Michael

[Talltim]

As an alternative to up and down inclines, you could have one longer incline, leading into a tunnel at the top with helix back down to standard height. Does anyone know what is a reasonable diameter for a double track helix? This would cut the length of the module down, although modules can be any length, there is a limit placed by the size of the hall.

Of course the incline section doesn't have to be straight. And the banker doesn't need to be RC if you are using DCC.

 

Once the incline is high enough, you could add an underbridge with a standard height track running across the module, if you so desired.

[Talltim]

Actually, thinking about it, a portable helix split over multiple boards would be a fun challenge to build...

[teetrix]

Does anyone know what is a reasonable diameter for a double track helix?

 

 

72" according to the 36" radius requested for mainline track in the standards.  Additional 2 x 9" to the outer board edge. If so, the outline is 7' 6" x 7' 6".

 

Btw.... if you start a branch at the lower level and connect it with the rest of the arrangement via the incline, you only need one.

 

Michael