Crossovers

[Craig H]

Does anyone else have trouble placing switches for yards and crossovers on a grade? The editor will make the connection without complaint but the tracks are not aligned vertically and the contortions I've had to go through to get things to look right are every bit as aggravating as trying to align two pieces of dynamic track in MSTS. :mad:

[Paddington bear]

HI,

I have sucess regularely making switches on grades. One major requirement is to get the grade the right way round...... is your base track going up hill or down hill, that is, do you want a +1:100 or a -1:100. (or what ever grade you desire). Remembering that when you turn around and look the other way, guess what , to lay track that matched the grade you have to change the grade for any bit of new track from + to - or vise versa Eg, If the grade from right to left across the screen is +1:100 then when you create a cross over laying track from right to left across the screen between two paralel tracks all is well but if you form the crossover by laying some new track left to right using the same +1:100 the new track will still be going up hill at 1:100 and not form a crossover at all, hense the need to change the grade to -1:100 so that it matches the existing tracks grade from your new perspective. And yes if you turn your view point around again to check something and decide its not quite right and decide to alter the track dont forget the grade of the new track is back to front once more. Track laying was never easy ;-). While the same grade on each parralel track at the point of cross over being the exact same is desireable, its not strickly nessecary. Sure adds to the fun later if they are differant but its quite possible to get a perfectly formed crossover with approximately close grades so long as the snap to track is on and have snap to terrain OFF.This is purely based on my own experiances so far. If you have this concept sorted and still have problems good luck on your quest for the answers.

Ross

[Craig H]

OK, :o. Been using the gradient thingy. I know it's dangerouus :rolleyes: but, I'll probably toss what I'm doing and start fresh when I get a better feel for all this. Your suggestion works great :). Thanks Ross!