I'm wondering what the minimum radius is for the 2 truck shay? I'd love to add it to my mining layout. My radius is really small, about 7.5 at the tightest loop.
Shay Minimum Radius I think I read somewhere that 18" is about the minimum radius for the On30 Shay. With a 7-1/2" radius, you'll need to stick with the Porter steam locos or the Davenport gas mechanical switchers or possibly the On30 trolley car. Remember that in O scale, 7-1/2" is only a scale 30', tighter than most prototype trolley curves, and more in the range of a small industrial railroad. Bill in FtL
I believe it can go less than 18" radius. However, when I had On30, I never ran my Shay on anything less than 18". That was tight enough for my purposes, and I preferred going larger, most of the time 20" and 22" range. So I cannot say for certain.