What size radius do you run?

[lionelsoni]

I'm not sure what Bigoak was referring to above, "Is there a limit? Anything from minimum to 180 degrees."

But maybe it had to do with the fact that the prototype American railroads do not refer to the radius (nor the diameter) of curves but rather to the change in direction for a 100-foot chord. Since the radius of O27 track is 12.5 inches (That's what I meant above), the diameter is 25 inches, which is 100 scale feet. Therefore O27 makes a 180-degree curve, which is in fact the sharpest curve that can be described using the chord method. I guess that's some kind of a limit.

[Anonymous]

The minimum I use is 072 with a few larger diameter curves made from Atlas flex track. One 072 turnout and three #5's so far. Future plans include adding easements into some curved sections so that trains don't lurch into turns. Ideally, I wish I could have used larger diameters throughout for a more realistic look but it wasn't possible with limited realestate Plans are to downsize some of my larger motive power and rolling stock. Even though there are no interferance problems, the overhang of a scale GG1 and 18" heavyweights looks, in my minds eye, really awkward in the curves. The struggle with realism and limited space continues.

Bruce Webster

[palallin]

The current layout will have a minimum radius of about 24" (O48) with about 30" (O60) on the widest. Yard trackage--what little there will be--will not fall below 17" (O34). The narrow gauge line will be 18" radius minimum to accomodate my wife's BLI 2-8-0.

Previous layout have used O27, O34, and O42 (with a few odd pieces of O54 and O72 as fitters), all O27 rail profile.