072

[FJ and G]

072 kinda is a magical number. Flip the last 2 digits and you get the absolute minimum radius of 027 (unless you modify your track for trolleys). Flip the digits the other way and you get the absolute minimum radius for the largest of the toy trains, all of which WILL run on 072.

Up until now, I’ve not paid much attention to 072; preferring instead to let my trackplan dictate the curvature. However, I’ve made a big decision to move my entire layout upstairs to my daughter’s bedroom (she decided to live in college dorm). Rather than try to jam cram pack a lot of track into the room; I’ve decided to make all of my minimum curves 072.

Why?

Several important reasons; but NOT because I plan on purchasing those large locomotives. I’ve found that the semi-scale stuff looks better on the wider-radius curves and in fact, am planning most curvature to be even wider than 072.

NOT belittling those layouts that still use 027. Been there, done that, and I think that’s fine. It’s not the curves, after all, that dictate what a good layout is; but rather, the artistic creation of the layout itself that’s important (be it toy or hi-rail).

Another reason for the wide curves is for nicer, smoother running. Another is because I’d like to install kadee couplers.

So, the rest of this month I’ll be developing a new trackplan which will include a humongous helix and 3 levels; next month when she graduates, will start moving the stuff upstairs.


Dave Vergun

[ChiefEagles]

Me too. With the help of Elliot and his computer, I have my track plan for the spare room upstairs. I told him I was going to use 072 on the main lines and I think several 042's for changing from lower level to upper level [and back down] and then work down to 027 for switching yards and sidings. I have been amazed at Spankybird running his big steamers on 027 but he uses K-Line low profile switches and they work. I would be using 027 if I were going to make a real "busy and complex" layout. Afterall, I have a whole big grocery box full of 027 switches [saw them yesterday]. I have one question Dave. Does the beagle run on 027? [:D]
Picture of Dave's 0-4-0 beagle

[FJ and G]

Hi Chief,

Wow, my BB beagle made it into cyberspace! She will be happy to see her picture going global. When the photo was taken her left front leg was in a splint. She'd collided with some furniture while tearing through the house. She's 100% pure beagle, and she's been happily eating bugs and grubs in the backyard.

All of that layout you see is coming down and going upstairs so it's back to stage 1 in planning.

Chhief, it's GREAT to see that Elliot is helping you out. I think Vitabile is helping Elliot as well with computer stuff. Nice to have a collaborative atmosphere here.

When BB sniffs out rabbits, she sounds and looks like a steam engine. Her sniffing sounds exactly like a steam engine chugging and her tail even rotates at 4 revolutions per chuff.

dav

[Big_Boy_4005]

Actually Dave, I'm working with Tony to write some software to control TMCC trains for a layout using CMRI. Tony is doing the actual writing, I'm mainly consulting on the train operations portion of the project. If it works, it may be marketable. Tony is working to make it flexible enough so that it could be used with any hardware, not just CMRI, and to be able to adapt to any layout, not just mine.[swg]

I'm working on a track plan for Tony, trying to design something for his space that will be appropriate for use with the software. Tony's space is tricky, because it is a little narrow, but I think I'm onto it. Tony likes designing software, I like designing layouts, we make a pretty good team. You and I also make a pretty good team, but for teaching model railroading and it's philosophy. [swg]

[Anonymous]

I love 072, but when I purchased my Veranda, it really needed 096!!! I say go with the largest curves you can. If you have the space, do it! BTW, what's the pooch's name Dave? Not being a steam guy, I would have called him an
0-2-2-0

[FJ and G]

Jack,

She answers to BB. Most of the kids, 7-8 yr olds, have big dogs or little dogs that bark in falsetto, but interestingly, they all like BB better than their own dogs! Beagles, IMO are a kid's best friend or, an "adult kid's" best friend.

The Miranda, I'm assuming, runs on 072 but really looks less awkward on 096.

As in anything, there are sacrifices to make. IF, and only IF 072 curves are possible in the space you have (or are alloted by "others"), then you probably will lose a lot of trackage. Is the loss of trackage worth the wider curves, you must ask yourself.

For me, the answer is yes. But when I first started toy trains, I tried to cram a lot in with 027. Simply changing tastes over time.

DAV

[daan]

For me there is no space for 072. I've got something as 045 or so (Diameter 1.20 meters) which is the widest I can get in my hobbyroom if I want to have space for a siding and some yardwork. The switches are all but one in 027, the odd one out is a 045-er. Again because of a lack of proper availability of trackwork I stick to those switches 'till I get hold of something better. Even the F3's and aluminium passengercars can run through 027, but it really looks like a tramway then..
Nice 0-4-0 by the way. We've got 2 0-4-0's, but they are so small, they would be switchers..

[ben10ben]

I'm currently running O72 tubular on the floor(partially hand-bent), and plan to have at least 1 O72 loop when I get around to setting up my layout.

I only have one monster scale loco, a Lionel SD-80MAC. Although this engine will run on O31, it looks HORRIBLE doing so(this coming from a toy train guy), I much prefer the look and operation of it on O72. It still doesn't look great, but, being a toy train guy, I can live with it just fine. All of my other semi-scale engines, as well as my one other scale engine, look a whole lot better on O72.

I also like to run my trains really fast, and O72 allow me to do so without risk of derailments. I've only had one speed-related derailment on O72, but that was only when running in TMCC at 18 volts and full throttle.

[Anonymous]

O-72 is such decadent ostentation [;)]. I am planning a layout with O-64 because of space, although I once designed a layout with O-160 curves. That was fun [:)]!

By the way, steam locomotives have three chuffs per wheel revolution.

See you around the forums,
Daniel

[NH_Chris]

As I've gotten back in this hobby and seen and purchased some of the newer scale engines, like the MTH NH EF-3b electric, I have had to go with bigger and bigger curves on my evolving layout. Current layout is planned for all-O-72 curves (aside from the yard).

I have the outer loop set up and have loved being able to run everything that was a shelf queen until now. But with a total layout area of "only" 8'x16', my layout when completed will be limited to an outer loop and an inner under-and-over figure eight. Actually, the track plan is based on the O-72 layout in CTT from a few months ago.

I agree with those who say that even smaller engines look nicer on larger curves. Another advantage is that they can go much, much faster [8D].

NH Chris

[ChiefEagles]

Just did a floor layout in a room upstairs and used 072. Those old Lionel magnitraction steamers love it. Now to build the real thing in the room next door.

[Anonymous]

Well, it sounds like that with Elliot's help, I'll be squeezing 10 lbs of dirt into a 5 lb bag! [:D]

Regarding the software, I don't know whether the approach I'm taking will definitely work with anything other than CMRI & TMCC, but we can hope!

Tony

[Anonymous]

i am in my 154th redraw of track plans for my 12x20' space and i'd love to keep wide radius curves and i can nearly get everything i want with the inner/yard leads at a 60"ish radius but all i end up with is 3 big rectangular shaped loops and a yard in the middle and maybe a future roundhouse..... boring. IMHO.

i'd like to give myself a hard time laying track and twist things up here and there but when i do that i end up needing to use some 42"ish radius to get a double mainline and long yard leads/loop. i like seeing the engines and cars making thier way around them wide turn with a decreasing radius (i forget the word for that) instead of taking a left turn like SteveMcQueen [:D][;)]

oh well... back to the drawing/clicking board...

[nitroboy]

I wish I could run O72. Not enough space. Been working on a new plan with O42 curves. Thats as much as I can do. Some day that O72 whistle will blow for me............

[Anonymous]

Woodsy:

I think the word you're looking for is "easement." I intend to use them in my layout, too, if there's room in whatever Elliot comes up with [:D]

Tony