I have a small (6'x10') Switching Layout at home. Most of my radius' are 24", but I do a few spurs that have a smaller ones. 20",18", and even a 15". These are fine, I run long 60' Boxcars, and even an Athearn SD40-2 will handle the 15". The Railroad I work for has some very tight radius', sometimes I wonder how those long cars don't go on the ground. I also have a club, there we have 30" radius on the mainline. Here is the Club's site ... Foamer
I hope everyone realizes how much your passionate discussions help the new kid on the block like myself who is designing their first layout in the last 20 years. My first layout was 4 X 8 when I was about 14. Just getting back to the hobby with my 4 year old son who I have to print a picture of a train off the internet every night be fore he goes to bed so he can put it on his bulletin board . Thanks for having such a great board and sharing your passion and experience. I look forward to reading every night and I just changed the outside radius of my layout thinks to this discussion.
Welcome to our family here on the TrainBoard Big Dave, and little Dave too! You both will enjoy all the photos, chit-chat, How-To info, as well as all the How-I-did-it details. ("Its not bragging if you can really do it!") And I can really do it. Brag that is!
Welcome to you Dave. Rail-fanning and modelling is a great father and son activity. And Rail-fanning can be done on the cheap. Stop in for a cheap burger and fries, go watch trains and go home; you can do this activity for years, and both enjoy it.
Rail fanning and modeling is also a great father and daughter activity as well. I have twin 2 and half year old girls and they love trains. Interesting conversation and a very good website ya'll have here. Interesting comments on the industry standard 4x8 layouts and 18" radius. I've been laying and relaying trackplans for a year playing with some geeps and switchers and the 18" curves have worked for me. But I've been wanting more and I think HO (despite having spent A LOT of money on the hobby) is getting tossed out the door in favor of N scale. I can just do more in N scale than Ho in the space I have.
