Free Layout Design Help

[dingbat]

Hi Harry,

I worked out the grades, and elevations as follows:

   

• The interchange yard is at your base elevation of 0".
  
• There is a 2.8% grade up from the interchange yard to the mainline.
  
• I kept the grades on the mainline loop as gentle as possible and only varied the elevation from 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" giving grades of 2.0% and 1.6%.
  
• There is a 2.1% grade from the mainline up to the town with the wye, which is set at an elevation of 4".
  
• The grade to the mine had to be steep at 3.0% to gain enough elevation to cross over the grade to the town which puts the coal mine at an elevation of 5 1/8".
  
• I circled the only critical elevation in red, and from my estimates it should give you about 1-1/2" of clearance.

Take care,
Rob.