Radius question....

[SunsetLimited]

Hey all, im getting ready to plan my garden layout, just have a question about radius. Im going to only be running one train, the LGB southern pacific passenger set, what kind of radius should i expect to need. Im planning on doing a fence running type with the turnarounds on each end.

Thanks!

[kstrong]

The general rule of thumb is "the largest you can fit in the space you have available."

Having said that, I wouldn't use anything less than an LGB 16000 series curve, otherwise referred to as "R3." This curve works out to just under 4' radius. A few reasons for this: Even though you're only "planning" on running one train, plans have a habit of changing. You'll likely eventually stumble on another train that you just "have" to have that wont fit around anything smaller than a 4' radius curve. Second, by limiting your curves, you inherently limit what others may be able to run on your railroad--a very important consideration if you're the least bit social. (And who isn't, when it comes to trains?)

LGB does design everything they build to run around their ridiculously tight 2' radius curves, but anything longer than their 0-4-0 looks quite silly going around them. The larger equipment will be far happier on the wider curves. If you can go with Aristo's 5' radius curves, all the better.

Later,

K