bridge clearance

Hi folks, I am building a Marklin layout and due to size constraints the best clearance I can get is 35mm. I know the steam loco I have is ok but I am concerned about electric locos (pantographs). I am not using a catenary system. Any thoughts?

Thks. Tom

Hi Tom
I dont have any trains with pantigraphs but you could just increase the grade of you track to get more clearence but you would have to run shorter trains to make that work.If thats okay with you, then i think that is the easyest way for you. I hope i helped you.

Steve aka "Slugger"

Hi Tom. I just checked out an 8811 with fully extended pantographs (I'm not using catenary either), siting on track which is on cork roadbed. From the base level to the top of the pantographs is about 33mm, so with your 35mm clearance you'll juuuuuust make it.

What grades will you have? Marklin says 4% is OK, but that's only with short trains. If you want to run, say, four D-Zug coaches you'd be better off with no more than 2%. I found this out the hard way

Thanks for your help. Is your 33mm measured from the track? I am running 3.5% grade with the 35mm from track to underside of the bridge. Again thank you all for your help.
Tom

agp-schwarzwaldbahn.blogspot.com/2009/01/rampas.html

mimaquetaz.blogspot.com/2009/01/por-un-pelo.html

makotom01 wrote:

Thanks for your help. Is your 33mm measured from the track? I am running 3.5% grade with the 35mm from track to underside of the bridge. Again thank you all for your help.
Tom

The 33mm was measured from the baseboard level to the tops of the pantographs. When I reported that I was forgetting that the measurements didn't start from the end of the ruler, so the clearance you've actually got is about 9mm. Should be plenty.