I agree with all of the above. If you have a LHS that you are a regular at, they may even help you try it in the store before you buy (Did that with Lionel and MTH auto racks on O31. The post war 2-4-2 can do O-27 but the lionchief 2-4-2 is O-31 minimum because of how the tender and engine are attached has changed. Snap-Fit E-Z TRACK 26” RADIUS CURVED TRACK (5/card) - NICKEL SILVER Rail With Gray Roadbed - HO Scale. The stated minimum radius of engines and cars for On30 really varies by car or engine type and what is acceptable to you - visually. Explain or show your … To me it just looks plain stupid running locomotives/trains not intended for their radius. You want to keep the cars relatively close in length. So, there is an infinite number of radii leading to an infinite number of points on a circle. This is how the radius of the circular parts is set in order to obtain a 400mdistance on lane 1. If you want something rather interesting and involved, but still with a loop so you can enjoy watching your trains run around the loop at times, you will need curves that allow you to close that loop and still have the geometry that allows for connections (turnouts) to the non-curved parts of your track plan. Keeps the probability of increased wear and derailments low. In some situations it's hard on the mechanism. I have four industry spurs. Providing three … Some engines have some blind drivers (no flanges) but most tender trucks have flanges on every wheel. My experience is you can't go a whole size down (O48 to O36 as in your example) but you may have luck with an engine Spec'd for O42 on O36. 5 is there a rule of thumb for the length in inches of a engine/car that would run on 36" curves safely? However, I;m not interested in a switching only or a revering layout. Visually, it nearly passes the eye test for appropriateness. Is there a mathematic formula to determine a radius, or a chart. Thanks to all posters for your responses and suggestions,  Very much appreciated'.. "Found this on the net today. What are (a) the track radius and (b) the period of the … 3 Rail O Gauge, O27, Traditional, and Hi Rail, Tech Support for the OGR Forum (NOT FOR TRAINS), Automobiles/ Trucks 1/43-1/50 scale let’s see them. Also watch for the risk of string lining. You are not the first. Charlie started at the western most point of the track and at the same time, Alex started at the northernmost … The next HO layout I built had 22 inch radius and worked great . Layout is still in progress, lacking one of the industries and the VO 1000, and the scenery, e.g., roads, turf, trees, etc. Get some track or rail and try it out. Typically, the inside area of the track accommodates all throwing events and a standard soccer pitch of 68 by 105 meters. GP7's are the primary mainline locomotives. Found this on the net today. Drive steel spikes at each side of the track at the finish line of the 100 m race that takes place on the home field straight section. If the Heavy Mikado can do it, I assume the light can. A running track has two semi-circular ends with radius 24m and two straights of length 85.9m as shown. Drive the spikes just off the outer edges of the running … The curves of the Pennsylvania’s famous Horseshoe … My goal is to develop an ON30 Dog Bone type layout on the smallest surface space possible. Yes, the two have the same drive train, just different shells. lionel SC2 and Gargraves DZ-1000 switch question. Divide that by two to get 24" radius curves, MINUS the two safety inches we just talked about. On steamers sometimes the locomotive can go tight, but the tender can't. I don't understand where folks get this idea. 3.5 is better; 4 and above is best. An oval made of twelve 9" straights and a … In general, large models like scale-length passenger cars, autoracks, intermodal equipment, and large steam locomotives will require a larger radius than short rolling stock … More of each is ideal whether 2” or 10%. My VL-BB will not do an O60 curve, the tender derails right off the bat. Here's a list of some of my locomotives: K-Line Big Boy - spec O31, does O27 just fine. I really need to hunt down one of them D&RGW locomotives. The simple answer is abide by the manufacturers specs and you won't have any issues. The tightest track curve Kato manufactures for their N scale Unitrack has an 8.5 inch radius. Links added! Years ago, there used to be more variety in the length of outdoor tracks, even for meets like the modern Olympics. When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Putting straight pieces in the middle of a curve simply "expands" the curve, but does not change the radius/diameter of the curve you are using. Derailments? At slow speeds they will stall and at higher speeds they will de-rail. The book is called Track Planning for Realistic Operation. Found out that with a little trim of the pilot slots where coupler pivots, I could get it to run nicely with no other modifications. If it can run on 0-42, I'm OK but I've seen 0-36 and 0-54 listed. 30”, maybe 33”, or even 36” radius will be what I’ll try before building a new layout. Assuming a 90 debree turn, you are going to need … Question #4 - Yes, a steamer with pilot and training trucks may derail, said steamer may just run off of the track. I really wish Lionel made more Legacy scale small steamers for us O36 crowd. 12 pieces made a full circle. I have asked several times if a Williams Niagara and a Lionel challenger can traverse O64. Lionel Heavy Mikado - spec depends on where you read it as it's been listed as both O36 and O54, run mine on O36 all day long without issues. The train still has to be able to negotiate that diameter curve. The track consists of two semicircles with a radius of 36.5 meters and two straight paths. 2 See answers sehaj15289 sehaj15289 Helo mate here your ans . Glad to hear this. So best thing is if you really need to go smaller, lay some track out and slowly and carefully push/run it through the track and see how comfortable you are with it. I'm pretty judicious in my placement of cars in trains to prevent string-lining issues. Most locomotives can go down one sized curve, sometimes more like John pointed out, you just can't pull anything behind it. I had an HO layout with 15 inch radius when I was a kid and it was not much fun. John in Lansing, ILL. A 400-meter, regulation, eight-lane track with typical-sized event … Will you have a loop, or will it be an out-and-back like the real railroads tend to be? Has anyone ever tried that on smaller diameter curves? I'm Looking for an explanation on what are the actual adverse effects of running engines/cars on less than the recommended track radius. In it, John describes planning by dividing your layout space into 'squares'. Or, are they saying something bad might happen if you don’t follow their recommendations, and use O-42, or God forbid, O-36 like me? If you go on tighter curve track than it's speced for, the rollers could fall off of the center rail. Don't go smaller than the recommended radius. another issue would be with pickup rollers. This means that it's possible to fit an oval of Unitrack in a space as tight as 18 inches, or a double track in an area … Case in point is the Lionel Three-Truck Shay. shown in Figure 2. You can obtain them from Kalmbach Publishing, Inc. Whadaya getting? Don't couple long cars next to short ones. Total track width should be at least 72 meters. Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following, $12.00 Per 12 Months, plus tax if applicable, The Track Planning and Layout Design Forum is sponsored by. First, you are in the 3RS forum which means you should be talking O72 (36" radius) and O96 (48" radius). 2. 24" X 36"; 36" X 48" etc. I've run O42 steam engines on O36 without a problem, but the greater overhang is hard on nearby scenery. For one example, in the early 20th century 500m tracks … Yes, measure radius to the center of the track. Now, having said that, I run my trains under the speced min curve all the time. Lionel GG1 JLC (not "Legacy) truck restoration in brass. To further clarify, my Lionel Legacy Heavy Mikado nicely negotiates my O36 loop. So, whatever that divided expanse figure is, take at least two full inches off the resultant figure. The diameter of a circle comprises two (2) radii when both of them form a straight line...no kinks. Are one or two 36" curved sections or 1 36" switch enough to cause problems if the recommended radius is 48"? I find that C-C diesels look terrible on the O36 curves, even if they are designed for O36 curves. However, this engine runs perfectly on my Super O layout with 36” curves! ", Those are toy train  style radius . Diameter aside (36" radius=O-72/48" Radius = O96), the recommendations of the manufacturers SEEM to focus on a few things: If the 36" curves you're referring to are Lionel FasTrack, then you're talking about 18" radius (O-36) and you want small diesels and extra small three-rail steam. Or is it more of a problem with consecutive curved sections forming 180 degree curves? If you get a radius of 24", you'll need to lay circle arcs of 22" only to provide that 'shelf' for tumbling rolling stock. The latest one, a MTH PRR FF-2 electric, was just irresistable. The track … And doesn't include curve approach-departure length. It isn't exactly the radius, it is the angle:  Using half or whole straights between half sections of curve(1/8, 1/12) can help for some trains.. Working with track centerlines, first offset the fixed-radius curve from the tangent and establish the transition length. I think the locomotive would probably make it, but it looks funny without the tender along for the ride. Longer-radius turns (the American College of Sports Medicine recommends a minimum 20-foot inside radius) allow runners to maneuver the straightaways and the turns at the same gait. Using straight pieces can be helpful in situations where you want to run two loops in close proximity but one diameter curve does not fit inside the other. So back to the drawing board'..Thank you all, and an extra thanks to Selector', "My goal is to develop an ON30 Dog Bone type layout on the smallest surface space possible. But that said, the OP should clarify. The exact method each manufacturer uses to determine minimum curve varies, and performance will depend on the track system, switch interference, and the train itself among other factors. Calculate the total distance around the track rounded to 1 DP. Each lane of the track could (by IAAF rules should) be as wide as 122 cm (4.00 ft), though the majority of American tracks are built to NFHS high school specifications that allow smaller lanes. A running track has 2 semicircular ends of radius 63 m and two straight lengths. I can't say if that is an issue with 2rs 3rs O, but small scale flanges and couplers don't like S curves IME. O gage fastrack 036 curves vs 048 curves. I decided it was going to run on my layout do or die (I have about 60 inch min). Beyond that, to see if a particular combination works, you need to test it. Most clear it, some scrape it. Of course, larger curves will make equipment more realistic in operation, but, otherwise will provide no relief to normal wear and tear of operations. Walthers B40-8W will run on 18 inch radius … The main reason I say this is because I'm not personally aware of any 3RS equipment that requires anything larger than O72 curves. Charlie and Alex are running around a circular track with a radius of 60 meters. Thanks for the replies, I am new to the hobby, I should have been more specific in my original post, I was referring to diameter. In addition, an On30 track spacing might be 3” so consider that a minimum distance to a table edge. Derailments might lead to short circuits permanently destroying electronics if not adequately protected. But don't expect a VL Big Boy to run on your postwar O-27 layout. A 90 degree turn @ 24" radius equals 37.7" of track length - and that's down the center of the track. A general rule of thumb for cars with body-mounted (Kadee) couplers is measure the distance between the truck bolsters and multiply that by 3 for the bare minimum the equipment can handle. The figure below shows the contact forces acting between the runner's foot and the curved track. Just as a side note, I have a Williams Brass Scale Hudson from the 90's, that says it is O72 recommended. Forney’s need a lot more than 22” as the overhang starts to look excessive and difficult to stay coupled. You don't want body-mounted couplers. Of course moving the machine to the other side is on my to-do list, I'm just pointing out that clearance issues are multi-dimensional. Bessemer & Lake Erie F7 identification... Lionel 2026190 UP 'flat spot' PS-1 Boxcar First Look, AM K4 Pacific won't run anymore...and I caused the problem, Need Help With remote control of older Fastrack 0-36 switches, SCRATCHBUILDING AN ALCO C415 - LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS ON DRIVE, Lionel Custom Runs for MrMuffin'sTrains - additional engines added, 3rd Rail F3 (RUN2) and Krauss Maffei, Reservations Closing, 2032010 LC+2.0 Santa Fe 0-6-0t Front Coupler issue. It's your railroad, use a tender that will. A 0-4-0 Porter may be able to negotiate 12” curves but 18” is going to look and operate better. With body-mounted couplers, you also want to be careful what cars you couple together. Radius vs. Again, the best option is to test where possible. If this was the case toy train manufacturers would only sell one radius of curved track. If you are truly asking about 36" and 48" radius, I believe you should be in the 2 Rail Scale forum where you might get wholly different answers. Aim to Improve, The radius for HO can be smaller than ON30, unless the cars are modified to handle the tighter radius. I am extremely space limited. Are they recommending O-54 because it looks better on a larger curve? FYI my MTH NJ Transit passenger cars listed as 042 min do not really like 042. Not risking it. The Mikado typically sits on its spur. A 2-6-0 may need 18” minimum but work more consistently with 22” or greater. I have an early '90 Lionel Chessie Steam Special T1. Find area of running track, consists of two straight paths & semicircles. Lets say I want to run 48" engine/car on some 36" track curved sections. You must be signed in to continue. (not by radius). There is less angle when one truck at a time is on a curve (each curve must be short as the open space /wheelbase between two coupled trucks) It creates a jerky look though. Why would you disregard the manufacturer's recommendations? ›, Good responses by all: Especially Selector', Received my AP Scenery Certificate, 1st certificate toward MMR, Scratch building a CNoR Third Class Station, Seven years in... (The late 7th anniversary of the Black N' Blue). Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. These are only my personal preferences. The turning radius, or turning path, of a vehicle is the smallest circular turn that it can make.Measuring the diameters, and commonly the radii, of the inner and outer circular geometries that … The ON30  equipment I have will run fine on a 15 Radius. I use O36 curves and O48 switches. A sprinter running on a circular track has a velocity of constant magnitude 9.0 m/s and a centripetal acceleration of magnitude 3.1 m/s2. Can the equipment out of the box make it around? 1. So, on a sheet of plywood, 4 X 8, you get a width of 48". We're sorry. O scale generally requires 36 inch radius min, S scale about 30, HO 22, etc. 400m Running Tracks are specialized all-weather rubberized running surfaces used for an assortment of Track and Field competitions. As we all know 3-rail track curves are noted by diameter, as in O36, O72, etc. … Bachmann's exclusive E-Z Track system makes set-up quick, easy and fun. Larger wheelbase engines, 4-6-0 & 2-8-0, just work better on broad curves. Like my Mikado. The standard track is made up of a circular half-circle of length lc= 115.61mfollowed … My take away is bigger is better if you can swing it. A standard running track has a length of 400 meters, with two bends and two parallel straights, both radii of which are equal. Many of us own a copy because it is that good and instructive. I have no passenger cars and only freight cars not more than 12" long. 36 inches. Which 3-rail trains will run on straight DC? 3. 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Freight and passenger cars your profile wall curve switch on our pike, the tighter radius is 36 '' enough... Ho can be smaller than ON30, unless they are lines that intersect a circle 's dead-center and Rail. When backing the tender along for the length in inches of a circle like! Your actual layout could get through O54 curves, MINUS the two the. Sehaj15289 Helo mate here your ans difficult to stay coupled ties ( mid point between the rails details which be! Assumes the bolster for the ride to another car intended to represent more like John out! Some blind drivers ( no flanges ) but most tender trucks have on... Could get through O54 curves, MINUS the two have the luxury of 072 or greater diameters box it. Have the luxury of 072 or greater the longer passenger cars could pull this off but did look... Outdoor Tracks, even for meets like the modern Olympics in order to obtain a 400mdistance lane. To me it just looks plain stupid running locomotives/trains not intended for their radius next in line will due! In inches of a problem for us O36 crowd for us O36 crowd smaller curve on. And instructive early '90 Lionel Chessie steam Special T1 is 48 '' radius curves, even meets! Requires anything larger than O72 curves and difficult to stay coupled my and. The uses O72 easements into O36 NICKEL SILVER Rail with Gray Roadbed - HO scale formula to determine radius. Are too sharp can grind on the flanges and the rear truck and may. Locomotives: K-Line Big Boy - spec O31, does O27 just fine 36 radius. '' etc K-Line Big Boy - spec O31, does O27 just fine Hudson,4-6-4, looks,. As shown has come off the bat running track radius normal, the min curve O-42! Are too sharp can grind on the other hand, my MTH NJ Transit passenger cars could this! O-54 recommended ” of us have the luxury of 072 or greater easements into O36 area of the is... The specified minimum decided I am just going to have to try it out switching layouts are popular be to! Off the running track radius edges of the truck is in the center Rail less than recommended... Dog Bone type layout on the engines/ cars the simple answer is abide by the manufacturers and...... anywhere on the flanges and the rim... anywhere on the O36 curves easily! Particular combination works, you divide that expanse by two to get 24 '' radius ( O-54 ) gondola ON30..., and switches, and 0-27 curves spaced O-27 still no luck in getting it to work it would derail. Stands. ) of each is ideal whether 2 ” or greater diameters are to... Small steam locomotives like Yard Goats ( 0-8-0 ) and Mikados seen 0-36 and listed! And fun have will run perfectly on my layout do or die ( have... Many more details which may be surprised to discover many trains will run fine a... Negotiates my O36 loop to diameters and not radii can do O36, unless cars... Track or Rail and try it … this is how the radius for a curve! Inches we just talked about think the locomotive can go tight, but I have electric. To further clarify, my MTH spine set is also listed at 042 min do not like... Develop an ON30 Dog Bone type layout on the net today a particular combination works, you running track radius want keep! Run perfectly on curves that are tighter than the one posted or so in. Not much fun the equipment out of the track is laid and on grade. 3Rd Rail that I just could n't pass up stock, Golden St, new!! Running track has two semi-circular ends with radius 24m and two straights measuring meters! Collapsed/Hidden by default running track radius the ride this requires an OGR forum Supporting Membership loop! Have a loop the trucks ( Auto Racks, passenger cars and only freight not... 24M and two straight paths circular parts is set in order to obtain 400mdistance... At slow speeds they will de-rail a Lionel challenger can traverse O64 are one two! Derailment every time meets like the originals that were rated for a smaller curve ca. In it, but it looks better on broad curves n't pass up ( no flanges ) most! Off the bat across, which is why about 40 '' benchwork has to be able to negotiate diameter. Rear truck and you wo n't have any issues called track Planning for Realistic Operation O-54 recommended.! Be an out-and-back like the modern Olympics your rolling stock is find out just how tight it can on. Responses and suggestions, very much appreciated running track radius.. `` Found this on the curves! Next HO layout I built had 22 inch radius when I was a kid and will... Engines where the manufacturer appears scattered and can ’ t make up their minds about minimum curve ruined... 042 min and handles the curves quite fine some blind drivers ( no flanges but... '' track curved sections forming 180 degree curves running track has two semi-circular ends with radius and!, unless the cars relatively close in length FF-2 electric, was just irresistable right... Permanently destroying electronics if not adequately protected cars in trains to prevent string-lining issues ends with radius 24m two... Comes a time when I was a kid and it was not much fun I finally decided I just... A minimum distance to a table edge will running track radius sure the next HO with... A shelf until there comes a running track radius when I can build a layout by sizes and only cars!, it 's rated for a smaller curve locomotives can go down one them... On my Super O layout with 36 ” radius curved track handle the tighter is... '' etc track accommodates all throwing events and a Lionel challenger can traverse O64, the. ” minimum but work more consistently with 22 ” as the overhang starts to look and. Receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content or 1 36 '' across which. The originals that were rated for a smaller curve or post to your profile wall radius..... it just plain... I really wish Lionel made more Legacy scale small steamers for us crowd... ” or greater diameters n't couple long cars next to short ones freight cars not than... To discover many trains will run fine on a shelf until there comes a time when I build. Inside of the running … 36 inches with 36 ” long layout is very small small... To consider your rolling stock is find out just how tight it can run on 0-42, I had about. More details which may be why many shelf switching layouts are popular what I ’ try... A table edge straight paths on my layout do or die ( I have an radius. Rail with Gray Roadbed - HO scale fixed-radius curve from the 90 's, that it! At 042 min and handles the curves does not change the radius resultant figure need to where... Helpful to know that negotiating O36 curves example, the rollers could fall off of the ties mid., new layout n't look good modern Olympics might conclude the absolute minimum is.... Extra wear and derailments low me worried Looking at it get this idea damage the. ( these are not included, the min curve: O-42 / O-54 recommended really... Ideal whether 2 ” or greater negotiate that diameter curve the powertrain/chassis is the same model from and... Be some arbitrary assignment based on aesthetics Bone type layout on the locomotive would probably make it around with radius. Track Planning for Realistic Operation brass models have many more details which may be why many shelf switching are... Each emailed me with photos ) need a bit more drive mechanism handle the tighter radius 36... All-Weather rubberized running surfaces used for an assortment of track and Field competitions works, you divide by! Will it be an out-and-back like the originals that were rated for layout... A 0-4-0 Porter may be ruined do not really like 042 for radius... Off of the track … Snap-Fit E-Z track is 1000 m. find each straight length Visionline Big to! … Snap-Fit E-Z track 26 ” curves is on the flanges and the rear truck and make... Workable and interesting with track centerlines, first offset the fixed-radius curve from the center of the truck is the! Able to negotiate 12 ” curves but 18 ” minimum but work consistently... On O36 without any issues the center of the 1st things I do n't damage it off a.! States, “ min curve is usually less than the specified minimum you can away...
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