i decided to do my layout freelance, but based off a prototype. in the area of late 50's to early 60's. plan on using maybe my current GP9, an RS-2, GP30 or switcher for diesel. my question is with steam, as i plan on running both. i've eyed up the Proto N USRA 0-8-0 and possible something along the lines of a Kato 2-8-0 or 2-8-2, i can't remember which one it was. what's the minium curve i can use on the steamers? i'll either use flex track with sectional track for the curves or use all sectional track, DC, a continous loop with some switching, and a shelf layout with table top ends for the return loops. the loop will return on a sepperate track instead of doubling back on itself to simplify things. i didn't plan on going with anything less than 11 inch radii. my main picture was to use the diesels, and at least use the 0-8-0 to bring down a log train of around 15 cars. i would load/unload the log loads as needed instead of having a 15 car consist of loaded log cars and a 15 car consist of empties. i also was keyed onto Kato Unitrack. i'll end up repainted all the diesels i buy because there's more locos i want than there is space/need to run them (current list is 6 locos plus the one i have and no need to use more than one loco at a time).
was that all too much info?
The branch line at my H0 layout has a radius of 61 cm, nearly 2'. Some brass steamers from my friends have there problems.
Wolfgang
Pueblo & Salt Lake RR
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11" should be fine for small-medium N scale steam and diesel engines. If you think you may eventually be running larger engines (like a 2-6-6-2 or 2-8-8-2) or full-size passenger cars, you might want to look at more like 15" radius. Plus, even if all your equipment will take an 11" radius curve, the trains will look much more realistic going around 15-18" radius curves.