The LGB Pier System
The pier system consists of 4 parts:
50612 Single-Layer Pier - Elevates the track by 15 mm.
50613 Triple-Layer Pier - Elevates the track by 45 mm.
50614 Track Mounting Piers - Sits on top of the piers and holds the track in place.
50611 Bridge Mounting Piers - Sits on top of the piers and supports each end of the LGB 50610 bridge.
Grade:
LGB recommends that the grade of a hill be no more that 5%. ("5%" means that the track climbs 5 mm over a horizontal distance of 100 mm) LGB's standard 10000 track piece is 300 mm, so a track pier at each end of the 10000 track, raised by 15 mm, is the maximum 5% grade. For most situations, a pier would be required every 300 mm, placed where the two track pieces join (fig 2).
Construction:
Each completed pier consists of one or more 50612 or 50613 modules topped off with a 50614 module. With the proper mix of 50612/50613 modules, any height of pier can be created with intervals of 15 mm.
    To create different height piers:
  • The first grade piece consists of a single 50614.
  • The second grade piece consists of a single 50612 (15 mm) capped with a 50614.
  • The third grade piece consists to two 50612 (30 mm) capped with a 50614.
  • The fourth grade piece consists of a single 50613 (45 mm) capped with a 50614.
  • This pattern repeats until the desired height of the final pier is reached (fig 3).
    The piers that support the 50610 bridge are special in two ways:
  • First, to offer stability, two piers are used side-by-side to support each end of the bridge.
  • Second, instead of being capped with a 50614 they are capped with a 50611 Bridge Mounting Pier.
The easiest way to determine how many of each type of pier pieces is needed is to draw a diagram of each pier (similar to fig 3) and then count the pieces.

An example of what you would need for a 225 mm (8.8 inch) rise bridge system (fig 3):
Item    Pieces    Packages
50600 or 50610 Bridge 1 Bridge 1 Bridge
50612 - Single-Layer Pier 30 Pieces 1 package of 36
50613 - Triple-Layer Pier 68 Pieces 1 packages of 12
50614 - Track Mounting Piers 28 pieces 1 package of 36
50611 - Bridge Mounting Piers 2 pieces 1 package of 2


Other Hints:
  • To convert from mm to inches, divide the mm length by 25.4 (example: 15 mm = 0.59 inches)
  • Make transitions between flat and steep sections gradual. Use a few short track sections to make a smooth transition.
  • Keep the grade even on steep sections, with no dips and rises.
  • Rolling resistance increases in curves. On real railroads, the grades are less steep in curves to compensate.
  • The number of cars your locomotive can pull depends on many factors (ball bearing wheelsets have lower resistance than standard wheelsets with carbon brushes, traction is reduced on dirty and/or wet tracks, etc.)
  • On steep grades, your locomotives will pull much shorter trains than on level track. On prototype mountain railroads, one locomotive often pulls just three or four cars.
  • Try doubleheading (two or more locomotives) to haul longer trains.