?Dimensions for a clearance car?

[Boyd]

Anyone know the dimensions I need to build a clearance car? On the main line the smallest curves are Lionel 42". There "might" be a "few" sections of Fastrack 36" curve in the yard.

[jimsrpo]

The dimensions will depend a lot on what equipment you run.  Big steamers and 18 inch passenger cars will make it around 042 curves but overhang quite a bit, while the smaller 027 style equipment will make it through narrower spaces.  Everytime I thought I had clearances figured out on my layout I got a new engine and had to chip away at some rock walls!

The best thing to do is to run your own experiments with your biggest equipment and go from there.

Jim Policastro

[lionelsoni]

The largest prototype equipment is 10'8 wide and 20'2 tall.  However, as has been noted, unlike the prototype the overhang on sharp toy-train curves overwhelms any allowance just for the width of the cars.