I tried to ask this in the Layout Design area, but I didn't really get an answer. I'm working on a new track plan, and in one of the plans I have 22" radius curves. The locos I'm concerned about running are my U33C and my SDP40 and maybe some passenger cars. Will these go through a 22" curve? I'm afraid that they won't an I will never be able to run them. I'm sure the GP50/GP60 and my SW1500 will have no trouble. I also have a couple of old steam engines, a 4-6-2 and a 2-8-2, but it would not be critical to run these. Thanks in advance. Shaummy
Well if you don't mined me putting in my 2 cents here. I run some big locos on very sharp curves here. I have run -8 cw40 on my outer main line of 24" and in side main of 20". Some of my big athreans grinde and slow a bit in the curves, but they come out the other side just fine. You do have to watch the overall length of cars behind some locos. For instance I have some great u-boats with 3 axels per truck. They go right on threw the curves no trouble. But if the car right behind it has to long of coupler draw bars or if the draft box sits to far forwarded things get just a bit tight. I have even pushed it to the limit in my yards. Most of my yards have 18" curves. I have found the key to all of this is how well you lay your track. Make sure that the gauge is just right and that you bank the out side of the curve a bit, just a tad. Make all joints good and smooth. Please do not count on running those Walters Auto racks. Well at least not just yet. I say that because I have found that in most cases if you work on the cars and get them tuned up just right even some of the longer cars will handle tight curves, that is if you can bare looking out the passenger car window, looking down at the track and seeing the rail sticking out a bit. Knowing this When I started work on my double track main line I kept the tracks 2" from center lines and on the curves I laid the track and held a pen to the side of the longest passenger car I had. I drew a red line. Then I could see how wide the car would swing on the curve. Then when I laid the inner track I did the same, but with a green marker. I then adjusted the curves wider out side and a tad sharper inside so that there was enough clearance. This is quite a time consuming thing but it has paid off on my portable modular layout. I can run passenger trains on in side and or on the out side and even one on both and they never collide on the curves. The only bummer is it looks a bit un realistic to see a bit of rail sticking out from under the cars or longer locos, but hay, its not a perfect world and when space is a premium, what you going to do? Here is a shot of the yard traks on the inside and 18" R. with the 20" and 24" R. you can see the difrance. :
I've used 22" radius corves on my HO layouts, but I was modeling shortlines, and ran mostly 4-axle diesels. You CAN run six-axle diesels, but they'll hang over the curve like a trolley car. But, since it is your layout, you have to decide if you can live with the overhang. Also, can you run cars longer than, say, 60 feet, on these curves, and will you be satisfied with the overhang on a sharp curve? Best thing I can tell you is that it's YOUR layout, and you can run whatever you want or feel comfortable with. Hey, it's a hobby- have fun, y'all!
Shaummy, You should not have any trouble running your equipment through a 22" curve (as long as it is a curcular curve and you have some amount of easement at its approach and exit). I keep a couple of lengths of Atlas Flextrack on hand and bend it to whatever radii I might question when questioning if a new unit can or can not negotiate a particular curve. I found out that my Logging Shay can handle a 9" curve this way too! I just wanted to see how tight it could go
Guys, I have 22" and 24" radius on my layout and I run anything from a Rivarossi Big Boy, (4-8-8-4 customized to a 2-8-8-4), but its the same length as a Big Boy, All I did was remove one pilot wheel. And I also run Athearns DD-40's I have 3 of them! And both the ex. Big Boy and the DD-40's run great on my 22 inch radius and 24 inch radius. Not have had a problem on curves with then coliding from over hang or anything.... My ex. Big Boys however will run on 18" radius just as a Athearn GP35 will... However I can not say that for my DD-40's the 18" radius is to tight for the long diesels.... But ALL my articulated steamers run just fine on 18" radius... I had my layout with 18" radius before when I first put it together and then wanted something bigger so it would look more prototipical.... And everything runs great now where before I couldn't have ran my DD-40's..... [ 20 September 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]</p>
<font color="336633">I have run U33C's and SD45's (same length as SDP40 I think) through 18 inch curves, they slow down slighty but dont derail, only prob is the coupler overhang, if a long car is coupled to the loco it used to derail the car, but I found that cars under 50' were fine</font>
Thanks for the responses. On your advice, I mocked up a 22" curve with a peice of flextrack and while it indeed looks like those bigger diesels will go through, the overhang is a little funny looking. I have increased the width of that area by 6" to increase the radius a bit. It is nice to know they will go through the tighter curves. Thanks again for all your help Shaummy
This curve radius thing gets tough-i'm putting in return loops on both ends of my 47' along the wall layout, and AHM passenger cars and my GG-1Ds look just barely presentable on 36" radius-that's a six foot square area to get a loop in! Anybody use the "Y" on their layout like some of the real guys? How does space compare for them? Curt
Curt, I have thought about putting in a "Y" and see how it works but only for my longest loco's though! Not for an entire train! Then again I also want to build a 20 inch turntable as well so if I build the turntable I won't need the "Y". But again I may want a "Y" on the other end of my layout where a junction will be but not as great in size. But yes a "Y" does use alot of room but probably not as much as the return loop would. I'm not real sure on that so don't quote me other guys in here might have done all 3 the turntable, "Y", and return loop so.. hopefully someone can help if i'm not correct.
