10-01-2014, 02:55 PM
the 'solder points' was from a pic in the M, N, O, Photo thread that inspired me to create this.
I'd say a top candidate for this would be the Darjeeling Himalayan Railroad, built back in the 1870s-80s in India. a Narrow gauge railroad that climbs up 7400 feet of elevation in less than 51 miles. That means it averages a 2.75% grade, but has some sections that exceed 5% grades, has curves as narrow as 56 feet radius(!) (thats 9.75" in HO scale!) -- on a curve appropriately labeled 'agony curve. It gets the nickname 'toy train' for a reason. But it works and they are still operating 140-year old steam engines every day.
Some of the loops:
![[Image: 06922.jpg]](http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/imfile/06922.jpg)
that loop is only 69-1/2 feet in radius!
![[Image: 06940.jpg]](http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/imfile/06940.jpg)
Agony Point
I'd say a top candidate for this would be the Darjeeling Himalayan Railroad, built back in the 1870s-80s in India. a Narrow gauge railroad that climbs up 7400 feet of elevation in less than 51 miles. That means it averages a 2.75% grade, but has some sections that exceed 5% grades, has curves as narrow as 56 feet radius(!) (thats 9.75" in HO scale!) -- on a curve appropriately labeled 'agony curve. It gets the nickname 'toy train' for a reason. But it works and they are still operating 140-year old steam engines every day.
Some of the loops:
that loop is only 69-1/2 feet in radius!
Agony Point
When I hear the iron horse make the hills echo with his snort like thunder, shaking the earth with his feet, and breathing fire and smoke from his nostrils, it seems as if the earth had got a race now worthy to inhabit it.
-- Henry David Thoreau
-- Henry David Thoreau