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Reading Layouts
William asks readers:
“This may sound like a stupid question; however, I bet there are many modelers that are thinking the same thing. I look at a layout and I see dotted lines, straight lines, helix curves, etc. I never see a chart to help you determine which lines are which! If a line is going from one level to another often times you cannot see where it picks up. Doesn’t anyone have any suggestions or solutions?”
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I use AnyRail for my track design, its cheap and very good. You can select show gradients and/or heights. Its my recommendation.
A Dotted line on a plan indicates hidden track, tunnels, tracks through buildings etc. Where the plan has hidden staging this may be shown away from its original location with letters to indicate which sections join up.
Often the start of gradients are marked with an arrow and either up or down to indicate the direction of that gradient. This often includes the gradient as a percentage or a fraction. With the fractions these are read as rise over run eg 1/25 rises 1 unit in 25 units horizontally. A 1/20 gradient is steeper where a 1/30 gradient’s less steep.
Hope this makes sense for all.