Super Elevated Curves? - HO Scale - Project Inquiry

I apologize for giving offense. I was making an observation about the photo's showing too much superelevation. I'm used to people's giving me opinions about how to improve my own work, whether I agree with them or not.

When I placed the Briark grain terminal processing plant on the G layout and was proudly showing it for the first time, one of the fellows in our group commented, "That's almost tall enough for an HO grain elevator facility." Afterward, I thought, "He's right." So we rebuilt it, adding height so that it almost touches the ceiling. That was a job, but I couldn't be more satisfied with the result. Here is a photo, and you can see the horizontal line marking the top of the added silo height.

If he hadn't said it that way, I wouldn't have been prodded to modify it and the scene would be less satisfying today.

Ken McElreath

 

I again want to thank everyone for chiming in. The reference photos and personal experience are exactly what I hoping for when I opened up this thread.

Right now, my biggest hang up is the potential to create running issues. I really only have 3 spots to consider adding super elevation, and that's the big curves at the out ends of the 3 peninsula. All three of those big turns have an S curve leading into it on each side, and there's also several turnouts in close proximity as well. I made sure to leave at least 12" of gap between changing directions to accommodate the long TOFC and Auto Racks, but I'm not sure that's enough length to factor in a super elevation transition as well. Add in the fact that the aforementioned TOFC and Auto Rack cars are the most likely to string line and then factor in the length of train I am aiming to run and its got me leaning away from the idea at the moment.

I think I'm gonna get the styrene and see about making a mock up on some sort to test things out and see how it goes.

 

If you have easements, you're in luck. A Rock Island fellow taught how to check super-elevation, and it began right at the curve entry, inside rail. It's maximum was to be where the inside tangent straight line intersected with the outside curve.

Easier to illustrate than explain.

 

FWIW:

According to the walls of the structures, the camera is very close to being aligned for "square". Plus, as tight as that curve is, very doubtful this track is anywhere near "high speed".

 

Nice photo. Beautiful S curve.

Ken McElreath

 

I wanted to come back and update this thread.

I ordered some styrene strips and mocked up a super elevated curve and looked things over for a while and wasn't convinced. I left it alone for a week and looked at it again today and came to the same conclusion: the cons outweigh pros. I just don't think the slight visual effect is enough to justify the extra work and potential running issues for my layout.

If scenery is a top priority for your layout, then I'm sure it's worth the time to set up super elevation, but it's not a huge concern for me.