gregc
Apprentice Modeler
i'm interested in how the Mahanoy Plane in Pa might be modeled in HO. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dianesf/1474592605/in/set-72157602240208292
the plane used a stationary steam engine to pull loaded coal cars up a mountain, while lowering empties. from there, they could easily reach the yard in st clair on their way south. the mahanoy tunnel made it obsolete. the plane rose 524' over a distance of 2460', a grade of 21%. this is an HO scale 6' x 28'. even if this were reduced to a rise of only 1', it would be ~5' long.
the more general question is how to realistically compress such real life features and make them appear realistic on a model railroad?
the plane used a stationary steam engine to pull loaded coal cars up a mountain, while lowering empties. from there, they could easily reach the yard in st clair on their way south. the mahanoy tunnel made it obsolete. the plane rose 524' over a distance of 2460', a grade of 21%. this is an HO scale 6' x 28'. even if this were reduced to a rise of only 1', it would be ~5' long.
the more general question is how to realistically compress such real life features and make them appear realistic on a model railroad?