Large curves

[Anonymous]

Has anybody banked larger radius curves? If so, how much?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Don't bother, if you need to bank your curves you are using too high scale speed and putting you stock at risk. If you need speed, look at the transition from the straight to curve, especially if you have turnouts just before the turn, as the shock of change of direction at speed will unballance your rolling stock.
If you have to bank your track then no more than 5 degrees, the maximum I believe for real world French TGV's at 200mph is 8 degrees.

I hope this helps.

[kstrong]

I wouldn't say "don't bother," but it's not really necessary. Curves on larger US mainlines are typically banked, but a vast majority of us don't model large mainlines in the garden, rather our track is more indicative of a short-line railroad. Most of the "banked" curves I've seen in large scale are the result of ballast settling unevenly than anything else. If you've got the room to model a broad sweeping curve reminescent of class 1 mainline, then I'd say go for it. The visual effect can be stunning if done properly. It'll either look fantastic, or like really bad trackwork.

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

Hi Iam new to his MTH says there train will run on a R2 curves. Does anyone know if that mite be a 4' R

[kstrong]

"R2" is a designation that relates to LGB track radius. It's their 1500 series curves, roughly 5' diameter. "R1" is a 2' radius (4' diameter) curve--thier 1100 series curves. "R3" is a 3.9' radius (7' 9" diameter) curve--their 1600 series.

So what MTH is saying is that their trains will operate over a 2.5' radius curve, but not on a 2' radius curve--the typical radius curve included in starter sets from virually all manufacturers. If your track is from such a starter set, the locomotive in question will not operate reliably around it. It may fit, but it won't be the least bit happy about it.

LGB and AristoCraft--the two major manufacturers of #1 gauge track for our trains--have been introducing larger and larger radius curves, to where the "original 3" track radii are now considered "small." Nowadays, the R3 curve is taken by many to be the bare minimum curve radius. Broader curves ranging from 5' to 10' radius are now available from both manufacturers. They also produce broader switches to meet the demads of larger equipment that is less tolerant of tight curves.

To put things in perspective, the tightest commercially available curve in HO scale (1:87) is 15" radius. 18" is the accepted bare minimum for smooth operation, and 24" is the accepted norm. HO scale is 3 times smaller than 1:29--the scale of USA and AristoCraft trains. When we multiply the HO measurements by 3, we get 45" (3' 9") as the tightest, 54" (4' 6") as the bare minimum, and 6' as the accepted norm. A 2' radius in 1:29 translates to a mere 8" radius in HO scale--about half the tightest radius available in that scale. It's easy to see now how relatively tight our curves are when compared to the rest of the modeling community. It's also easy to see how relieved we--as modelers--are since the manufacturers have mostly abandoned the "R1 minimum" rule for compatibility.

Later,

K

[markperr]

Because one of my curves is at the bottom of a 3 percent grade, I did super-elevate my outside track aproximately 1/2 bubble going into the curve. I don't know what that equates to in degrees but it works well as my train tends to pick up a little speed coming down the hill and this helps the lighter cars from derailing. I slowly reduced the super-elevation at the bottom of the curve until it's dead flat going into the tunnel at the bottom of the curve. I tested the curve full speed with my U25B and a string of fifteen cars and everything stays on the rails. I'm not sure what full scale speed the U25B is capable of but I'd guess it's in the 60-70SMPH range. BTW, it's a ten foot diameter curve.

Mark

[Anonymous]

Kstrong
I see you keep useing EAST BROAD TOP on your forum replys, were you from that area of penna. I get up to the rail road about 1 time a year, i go campimg a few miles from their,I also new a man that worked their, that lived in LEBANON PENNA..He used to work in a local bank here in lebanon. I like that they made the trolley line longer, I know their was talk of it closeing down a few years ago. but i guess it didn't . Ben

[kstrong]

I'm not from Pennsylvania, but I am a huge fan of the East Broad Top RR. I'm also the editor of the Friends of the EBT's quarterly magazine, the Timber Transfer. I grew up in suburban Washington DC, so I was fairly close to the railroad myself. Alas, now I'm 1800 miles from it, so I don't get a chance to get over there anywhere near as much as I'd like. (In fact, I haven't been since I moved out to Denver.)

The trolley line (Railways to Yesterday) extended their line all the way to where it crosses 522. PennDOT realigned the highway through there, raising the road about 8 feet from its old grade. Unfortunately, that means that the trolley tracks will never be able to cross the road and continue further out the Shade Gap branch. Bummer, that, but if the realignment saves a few lives along the highway, I guess I can live with it.

The railroad itself will be operating next year, hopefully with a completely rebuilt #15 pulling the trains. The management and the FEBT are doing a lot of work refurbising the buildings and the track in the Rockhill yards, so the future--while not gleaming--is not as dim as it used to be.

("East Broad Top" is also my user name on mylargescale.com)

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

I use Aristo-Craft 12 foot diameter and nothing is banked at all. I have easily pulled Aristo-Craft heavyweight passenger and streamline passenger cars being pulled by FA/FB/FB/FB with 8-10 of these passenger cars at full speed with no derailments ant the track is level from rail to rail and this complete section of the layout is almost dead level.


Mikadousrp

[Chompers]

I personaly like manufacturers to make there trains to be able to go around a 5 foot diamiter curve. Seeing that i must use them for a certan curve, but i only run smaller Lgb Moguls and Aristocraft C-16's. not enough Room for Dash 9's or Big Boys. I us LGB R3 and R5 for all the other curves.

Just a thought, but does any one else think that in the featured railways they should include minimum switch radious?

they do in Model Rail roader.

Just my Oppinion.
also what is the Biggest/ Longest train you run. For me it's a C-16 and 5 cars... You


By
Chompers