What size radius do you run?

[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.

[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

[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.

[mitchelr]

I started with 0-27 track and switches then changed over to 0-31 tubular track and PW 022 switches.

[Anonymous]

I've always had O27 when I started out in the younger years. Then I started getting O gauge track with O31 curves.

Once I get my engine layaway purchases paid off, im gonna get more track, especially switches. I gotten some O72 curves recently and I plan to buy more soon. I also like the realistic turns on those curves for the locomotives and the longer cars that I have. The wider the better I think.

Chris

[Buckeye Riveter]

O-42

New switches are 0-72, so that I can go full blast through the cross overs.

[lionelsoni]

12.5 inches.

[LL675]

I run Lionel tublar O27 track. I run Lionel Pre?postwar steamers to a MTH RailKing Pennsy M1a.

Dave

[traindaddy1]

Hi! I use the basic 'old' tubular O-27. It fits my limited layout space AND my budget. Thanks for asking.

[Anonymous]

Corton mentions he uses Atlas 054 curves on a 5x8 outer loop, are Atlas 054 & Lionel 054 the same size ?. I have a 5x9 & would like to use Lionel tubular 054 curves on the outer loop. Is this possible & would I have to do any cutting to make it fit?.
Thank You,
Rozy

[DCmontana]

042 outside loop connected by 022 switches with an inside loop of 031 on a five by twelve layout. I plan on going to a 7 X 21 pike in the future and with 072 on the outside loop and a minimum of 042 on the inside, but that is down the pike so to speak.

I use tubular track know, but will probably switch when I build again. I like my sons fastrack with his Thomas set!

[dwiemer]

Using fastrak and some pw O27. So mostly O36 and a little O48, O52.
Dennis

[Anonymous]

Mine is fastrack 072 and plan to get 086 for my Acela and Big Boy 4006. Pus if it's wider it tends to make the trains look more realistic when they turn in my opinion. The smaller the turns are the more the edges of the loco. or cars stick out.

[guilfordrr]

I use completely Lionel traditional 0-31 tubular, though on future layouts I plan to go wider.

[Anonymous]

All my track is traditonal 031 tubular. Outer loop - 054, inner loop 042, yard and reverse loops 031. Swiches are 022, K-line 042, and some wonderful old #711s on the outer loop passing track. I run everything form early O tinplate to modern 027 equipment. I have one scale PA that needs 042.

Old 2037

[Roger Bielen]

For my outer loop my limiting diameter is an O68+/- S-curve. The remainder on that loop are O72 give or take. I used flex track so I made my curves to suite. My inner loop is O64, same criterea.

[Birds]

O-31 tubular curves and O-31 switches.

If I were to start over again, I would seriously consider going with O-27.

[Anonymous]

My minimum on my new layout will be 72", with 81" curves on the outer main. Even the sidings and spurs will have 72" curves laid, as I like to run big stuff. Luckily, I'm being handed the whole basement of our new addition!! I have warned my fiancee what this means, but she INSISTS that I make a layout!! You just can't beat that!

Bob Blomberg

[lyle_styles]

I have 031 curves except in the yard that uses all 027 track and switches.

When Bryant outgrows the Thomas the Train layout, then we will be able to upgrade to larger curves to handle the big stuff cause we'll have plenty of room for those large sweeping curves that make the trains look even better.

Lyle R Ehlers

[corton]

On my 5x8 table I run an Atlas 054 outside loop, with an Atlas 045 inner.

[tschmidt]

My curves are only 054. I didn't have room to go any wider. It does limit the size engine and cars I can buy but there are plenty of choices up to 054. The turnouts are 054 and 072.
TomS

[jimhaleyscomet]

My previous portable layouts were all 027 curves and switches with an outerloop of 031.

In my most recent layout I have a large L shaped table. My switches are mostly MTH 042. My curves are 054 except the turnarounds on the ends, they are 031. I plan to hide the 031 ends in tunnels to avoid seeing large overhang of passenger cars.

Jim H

[mickey4479]

My minimum is 072, Atlas except for 4 short spurs where I run a B6s switcher. I have one section of main where its 081 Atlas and a couple of areas where I have relaxed 072 curves with 081 pieces. I like old PRR steam and the Lionel K4s and M1a locos I have require 072 as a minimum. It does eat up real estate but then I have more opportunities to scenic.

My first layout was a 5 X 9 layout with 036 Atlas track. I had a siding along one long edge, a reversing loop and spur. I really enjoyed that layout as a start and my first steamer (MTH 2-8-0) could handle the 036 diameter curves. There are times when I just need to make some saw dust and I think about that design with some tin plate trains. But I have more than enough to handle.

[Big_Boy_4005]

For me, it's nothing less than 072 on the mainlines, and nothing less than 054 anywhere on the layout.

[fwright]

Outer loop on my 4x8 is half 042 (027 height to go with my MPC draw bridge) and half O31. I did that because trains coming down the grade from the bridge didn't like to stay on 027 curves at kid speeds! Inner figure 8 is 027. If I had more space, I would go with 031 minimum, although I do like the looks of the Atlas track and 036 switches. But I still need tubular track in places for my postwar accessories. The locomotives that need 042 and better are out of my price range so I don't need to worry.

yours in toy trains
Fred W

[spankybird]

IT's all 027 with 027 curves.

[laz 57]

I'm using 0-27 track and have 0-27 curves,0-42 curves 0-54 curves also have an area with fasttrack with 0-36 and 0-48.
If I had to do it all over would have designed with0-72 and worked my way back.
laz57

[cnw1995]

Only 027 and a few 'customized' curves - I cut and bent the rails a tad either way. This limits me to short-wheelbase engines and cars. For example, my MTH searchlight car with 3 axle trucks doesn't quite make it around my 'custom' curves.

[Dr. John]

I have used and will use again the following using O-27 track:
O-27
O-34 (Marx curves)
O-42