I am considering building a new track plan next summer. One of the ideas I'm considering is a U shaped, "point to point" with a loop at each point and double track from loop to loop. However, due to the limited size of the room, I might need to use a radius of 15" to pull it off. I have never used anything less than an 18" radius. Can my largest locomotives, a 4-8-2 and an SD40-2, handle a 15" radius curve? I found this at http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/34704.aspx but I'm still not 100% convinced: "I do have a 4-8-2 light mountain that will run on the 18" nicely and looks quite nice doing it. I will run (grudgingly) on the 15" but I only run it on that to access the reversing section." - Anonymous - Brandon
Not recommended. It is not likely that the SD40-2 will make it. The 4-8-2 may, but ultimately, your layout space is not conducive to a "running" layout, rather it better supports a switching layout.
Keith is right. 15" is too tight for reliable operation unless you are modeling an earlier era with 30' and 40' cars and 4-4-0, 2-8-0, box cab switchers and other small engines. GS
Agree with Keith and Greg - 15" is too tight for your layout on anything but a tight siding. I originally had a spur coming off of a yard going to an industrial building with a loading dock. In order to make it fit, I had to use one section of Atlas 15" radius track. Our SW7 and S-2 rode over it OK, but looked bad on such a tight turn. A longer road locomotive, be it diesel or steam, would look very bad on such a tight radius, and might not operate well. Don't discount the bad appearance - you will not like the way your trains look on the curves. BTW, I pulled that spur up. All that is still on the layout is the road bed. I moved the building. Ken
I know a guy that has a 15" Radii curve, he has problems with it. Constant derailing. Any car with even minimal underframe details will be contantly derailing as the wheels will bind with same.
I'm glad to see that, I wanted 30" on mine for passenger cars, but now wish I had bigger curves, The "Look's" thing is more, even than I thought. I have a 27", some of my cars bug me on even that.
Yep. I had 30" minimum radius on my all-passenger layout, but had to blow that up when we moved from Illinois to Missouri. Plan this time (same layout) is for minimum 36", 39" when I can fit it in. GS
