ZIG ZAG height gain in a small space

Welcome Guest! To enable all features please Login or Register.

Notification

Error

ZIG ZAG height gain in a small space

Options

View

Previous Topic Next Topic

Chas		#1 Posted : 09 January 2023 08:57:39(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 08/01/2023(UTC) Posts: 6 Location: England, Pevensey		I am very limited on space for a spiral, so, has anyone built an automatic zig zag system to gain height in a small space? All it needs I think, would be a couple of 8745's, 2/4/6 passing switches 2/4/6 powered turn outs, 2 feeds, 2 both rail isolators. Height anything you want? Foot print 60mm by any length curved or straight. Speed and direction the same as entry. Thanks Chas


User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks


	Wish to join the discussion?! Login to your marklin-users.net community \| Forum account or Register a new forum account. Or Connect via Facebook

Toosmall		#2 Posted : 09 January 2023 09:34:10(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 26/07/2021(UTC) Posts: 616 Location: Sydney		Here is the real thing: https://www.dpie.nsw.gov...-on-track-to-finish-line Or type in Zig Zag railway Lithgow Blue Mountains images. There are plenty of photos for ideas. It would be no different to an automated block section loop. Each block section now simply changes the train direction and switches a point to go up hill. Thinking out loud, you will need an overriding circuit so when trains go down hill everything works properly in that direction when using the same momentary switches. Otherwise you will need two sets of momentary switches and turn off power to the set of switches not need. You will need space side by side for each level of track.

1 user liked this useful post by Toosmall		Chas
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

Poor Skeleton		#3 Posted : 09 January 2023 20:40:41(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/10/2015(UTC) Posts: 553 Location: England, Cambridge		Originally Posted by: Chas I am very limited on space for a spiral, so, has anyone built an automatic zig zag system to gain height in a small space? All it needs I think, would be a couple of 8745's, 2/4/6 passing switches 2/4/6 powered turn outs, 2 feeds, 2 both rail isolators. Height anything you want? Foot print 60mm by any length curved or straight. Speed and direction the same as entry. Thanks Chas If the track only needs to be operated in one direction, you won't need to electrify the points (if you use Marklin) as they can be entered against the point. Cheers Chris

1 user liked this useful post by Poor Skeleton		Chas
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

kiwiAlan		#4 Posted : 09 January 2023 23:40:09(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,109 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot		Originally Posted by: Poor Skeleton Originally Posted by: Chas I am very limited on space for a spiral, so, has anyone built an automatic zig zag system to gain height in a small space? All it needs I think, would be a couple of 8745's, 2/4/6 passing switches 2/4/6 powered turn outs, 2 feeds, 2 both rail isolators. Height anything you want? Foot print 60mm by any length curved or straight. Speed and direction the same as entry. Thanks Chas If the track only needs to be operated in one direction, you won't need to electrify the points (if you use Marklin) as they can be entered against the point. Cheers Chris Is that still true in Z scale? (we are in the 'small scale' forum, and he is using catalogue numbers for z scale items).


User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

Toosmall		#5 Posted : 10 January 2023 01:20:24(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 26/07/2021(UTC) Posts: 616 Location: Sydney		The main reason I didn't bury a spiral in a mountain was to reduce gradient by running the spiral out into the scenery. It is more work, but anything to keep gradients to a minimum. Why waste a good scenery opportunity with a a spiral. They are worth their weight in platinum! I built most of this layout a couple of decades ago utilising the scenery side of the spiral to help keep gradient to a minimum. Model at 1:10 scale of Z gauge layout to help iron out problems.

2 users liked this useful post by Toosmall		marklinist5999, orionstars
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

parakiet		#6 Posted : 10 January 2023 12:49:49(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 20/02/2017(UTC) Posts: 281 Location: Flanders!		For a short train this might be fun. So you lead up and at each end there is a switch leading to the next stretch? So you change direction a few times. The longer the train, lesser the distance you can 'climb'. If your train is 20 cm long you loose at least 50 cm climbing distance. Anyway this is a nice idea. Perhaps something fun with a BR74 (or any heavy loc) and a few cars. I bet it could concur a relatively steep gradient.


User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

Poor Skeleton		#7 Posted : 10 January 2023 20:47:35(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/10/2015(UTC) Posts: 553 Location: England, Cambridge		Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Is that still true in Z scale? (we are in the 'small scale' forum, and he is using catalogue numbers for z scale items). Yes, absolutely! I do it all the time Cheers. Chris

1 user liked this useful post by Poor Skeleton		Chas
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

Users browsing this topic
Guest

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.