I have a small area on my railroad that I need to reduce the diameter of the track. I currently have an 8' diameter there. Is it possible to cheat a bit and add a couple of 6.5 diameter pieces of track to the 8' diameter, and still have my aristocraft E8 make it through? Any success out there on reducing track diameter and still having your larger locos stay on the track?
Simple answer: don't even think about it.
My friend has a layout where he was getting derailments in the middle of curves. It was not apparent at first but he tried this trick. Suffice it to say re-doing the track was more work than doing it right in the first place.
Keep working to come up with a better solution or smaller loco.
You would do better to make a smaller constant curvature curve than have a "jerk" in the middle.
Regards, Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
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What about if when you enter and exit? I can keep the 8 track for everything else? Thanks
Buck,
You might want to borrow some 6.5 foot track to do some testing. I used to run with 6.5 foot diameter curves and my SD-45's had no issues, although my USA SD-40's were problematic.
I do not have an E8, but I would think the trucks are similar, if not the same as the SD-45's. I have since gone to 12-16 foot or wider to fix the SD-40 problems.
If you are currently at 8, if you could get your hands on a track bender, maybe you could find a compromise someplace between 6.5 and 8, making it maybe 7.5? The closer to 8, the better it would be.
Good luck,
Mark
M. Gilger - President and Chief Engineer MM&G web
Web Site: http://mmg-garden-rr.webs.com/
The construction and the way USAT "handles" curves vs. Aristo is totally different.
Aristo has a rigid frame (ignoring the rotational twist which only helps on warped track) with large side to side play of the axles, so in a curve, the center axle will slide one way and the outer axles the other to basically "follow" the curve.
USAT 3 axle trucks are basically a 2 axle truck with a 3rd axle that pivots like the pilot truck in a steam engine.
All of that notwithstanding is you want to avoid rapid changes in curvature. Make the curve constant. Find a friend with a rail bender. I guess by your lack of response you cannot find a way to make more room.
Thanks, I am going to plan B and keeping my wider radius. My Equipment runs great now, so I guess I wont mess with it.
Howdy Buck; I congratulate you on making a wise decision. I see so many questions related to using the smallest possible track curvature. I run all four axle locomotives but I use 20’ diameter curves wherever I can and 10’ absolute minimum. Trains run better and look soooooo much better. Why buy and run expense beautiful locomotives and long cars and spoil the ambiance using cartoonish tight track curves.
Have fun, Rob
g. gage Why buy and run expense beautiful locomotives and long cars and spoil the ambiance using cartoonish tight track curves.
I think Rob just put the tape on that box, hit the nail on the head, precisely summed up the issue, finished the essay in 20 words or less. Right On Rob! Nothing more need be said.
Tom Trigg
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