One of the first things I did with it was to measure the infamous grades on the RVR's zig zag.
The steepest section of the middle road, which my little Krauss will negotiate quite successfully with a four or five wagon on fine dry days, but has defeated many much larger visiting locos, measures an amazing 1 in 12!
The bottom half of the middle road is a far more sensible 1 in 19, not far off my intended 1 in 20! Obviously, when I was originally surveying it a major error in calculations set in about half way up!
Overall, the average grade from Bottom Points to Devlins is 1 in 17, which would not be too bad, if it wasn't for that short pinch at 1 in 12!
However, I am going to deviate the entire top end of the zig zag, eliminating Top Points and the reverse, thereby eliminating the zig zag altogether. In the best traditions of Australian steam railways a steep, (albeit direct) bottleneck of a zig zag will be replaced with a longer, but more easily graded loop deviation. The deviation will have a grade of approximately 1 in 27, which should make life easier for visiting locos!
In other RVR news, the extension of the main line from Bottom Points towards a connection with the Emu Bay Railway at Guildford Jnt proceeds apace. The two span underslung Howe Truss over Dragonrock Gorge has been completed and is only waiting the installation of the approach trestles and track laying. The site of Dragonrock station has been cleared and is awaiting the attentions of the track gangs. A shipment of fine English rail is expected at any moment (Our supplier is having a few days off over Easter!).
All this, will, of course, appear on my web site once construction is completed and the official photographer has paid a visit.
However, getting back to the question in the header, is the middle road of the RVR's zig zag the steepest adhesion worked railway in the world, model or otherwise?
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DPC James McInerney
STOP! In The Name Of The Lore!
At http://www.cia.com.au/bullack/ , "Lambing Flat's" mainpage for the
HO model and NSWGR information.
Or http://www.cia.com.au/bullack/rvrtitle.html for the "Rurr
Valley Railway", my G gauge garden line