40 foot boxcars, 4 ft LGB track

[POWDIE]

I work for a cigar company and have recently located a couple 40 foot boxcars with their logo, I have 8 foot diameter track around most, but I have a section with a 4 foot turnaround, it is the LGB Santa Fe starter set with extra track added, can the 40 footers handle that tight a turn? They are also LGB. Thanks for any help.

[altterrain]

Sure they can. Just don't highball through that section or you will wind up with this -

-Brian 

[Anonymous]

They are also LGB.

LGB corporate philosophy insisted upon the oft called "4 footrule" or "R-1 rule"...EVERY product they made HAD to go around an R-1 circle..... How silly they looked doing so is up for debate, but they went. So the answer to your question is-- they'll run just fine.

[lownote]

I don't have any small radius curves on my main track but I do have some R1, 4 foot curves in a yard heading into a storage shed. I have no problems whatsoever running aristo frieght cars on that track. The problems might be the overhang as they turn--they might hit building/plants/scenery. But they will negotiate the cruves temselves just fine. You might have trouble with really long trains, but they'd have to be very long

[two tone]

Hi Powdie, I always use LGB r3 curves 40ft cars need that, it looks daft to run on R1 as the cars over hang to much. You will also get wheel wear on small radius.   Hope this helps

[ttrigg]

By design LGB will make the tighter curve, however there are a few drawbacks:

1. Looks a bit strange with all the overhang.

2. Causes excessive wear on the wheel flange and bearings due to the lateral thrust.

3. Causes additional wear on the railhead.

4. Causes extra drag resistance to the engine, excessive wear in the motor bearings.

5. Depending upon which kind of couplers you are using it can cause unscheduled car disconnect.  Can also cause stress damage to the coupler mounts.

The same damage occours weather you use four foot diameter, or four hundred foot diameter, it just happens faster on the smaller/tighter diameters.  The only way to avoid the wear and tear is to put the train in a hermetically sealed showcase, but where is the fun in that?

Now; after doing all this preaching about why not to do it, I will fess up:  I have a 2.75 ft deiameter "S" curve right in the middle of a 19.5% grade on a bridge.  The only things I have that can negitiate that curve/grade combination is a Bachmann streetcar and a "handcar" (speeder?), both have very short wheel bases.  It was something I wanted to do and was aware of the associated problems, and went into it with the clear knowledge of the potential system failures.  Remember this is a hobby, and hobbies are supposed to be FUN!  Now get outside and play in the dirt.