question about designing layouts in HO

[Anonymous]

There seems to be alot of disappointment with the HO 18 inch radius curves. I find them useful to get little engines and cars to the industry customers in a tight space.

Engines and long cars like 24" or bigger. Some ready to run product in the stores will have a small warning on box stating minimum radius. Certianly one can always squeeze it down smaller curves. Or try to one time.

Let us think of the 18 inch radius not as a block to large equiptment, but rather as a area where Big Engines and Big Cars cannot go. This should more than justify your switchers and small cars etc.

My future main will have several large curves where normally straight track would be and I think other scenic areas such as a stream, river or buildings (backyard gardens etc) that the train needs to work around creates an impression of a long train out of a 14 car unit. (14 cars and a caboose is long enough for me)

Images of multiunit lashups and 75 car double stack trains need about 50-60 feet to fit. I find it amusing that we are worried about finding 18 inches of room when we dream of that long train we like to run.

Good Luck!

Lee

[Anonymous]

There seems to be alot of disappointment with the HO 18 inch radius curves. I find them useful to get little engines and cars to the industry customers in a tight space.

Engines and long cars like 24" or bigger. Some ready to run product in the stores will have a small warning on box stating minimum radius. Certianly one can always squeeze it down smaller curves. Or try to one time.

Let us think of the 18 inch radius not as a block to large equiptment, but rather as a area where Big Engines and Big Cars cannot go. This should more than justify your switchers and small cars etc.

My future main will have several large curves where normally straight track would be and I think other scenic areas such as a stream, river or buildings (backyard gardens etc) that the train needs to work around creates an impression of a long train out of a 14 car unit. (14 cars and a caboose is long enough for me)

Images of multiunit lashups and 75 car double stack trains need about 50-60 feet to fit. I find it amusing that we are worried about finding 18 inches of room when we dream of that long train we like to run.

Good Luck!

Lee

[dano99a]

Mark-

My 2 cents and I'll keep it short:
18" curves are fine just know that the roverossi (can't spell it) passsnger cars will not go around them nor will anything that length (auto carrier cars, high cube boxcars)

Athern "ready to roll" pullman cars work fine on 18's. I have 6 of them and they work fine.

Large steam engines will not run on them either (big boy, etc. etc.).

If you can live with the way everything looks on an 18", curve then get going and start having fun with the space you have.

I use mostly 18's but most people don't notice or care because they're too busy looking at the scenery. Not the curves.

hope this helps

[dano99a]

Mark-

My 2 cents and I'll keep it short:
18" curves are fine just know that the roverossi (can't spell it) passsnger cars will not go around them nor will anything that length (auto carrier cars, high cube boxcars)

Athern "ready to roll" pullman cars work fine on 18's. I have 6 of them and they work fine.

Large steam engines will not run on them either (big boy, etc. etc.).

If you can live with the way everything looks on an 18", curve then get going and start having fun with the space you have.

I use mostly 18's but most people don't notice or care because they're too busy looking at the scenery. Not the curves.

hope this helps

[Anonymous]

I use both 18" and 22" radius track. The 6 axle locomotives some will work on 18" radius curves some will not. My Kato SD 45 locomotive runs well. I have used up to 72' lumber cars on the 18" curves without problems but again the appearance is the issue.

[Anonymous]

I use both 18" and 22" radius track. The 6 axle locomotives some will work on 18" radius curves some will not. My Kato SD 45 locomotive runs well. I have used up to 72' lumber cars on the 18" curves without problems but again the appearance is the issue.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by unionpacific4018

Greetings

I just started back into the hobby and I am modelling HO Scale Union Pacific so that means big radius turns my minimum radius is 36" my biggest is leading into a spur is 60"

Sean

Sean, I am planning a elevated layout around a bedroom. I have a Alleghany 2-6-6-6 also a UP 2-8-8-4. I was planning on using my minimum radius at 32". Will your UP make a 32' or should revaluate my radius to 36".

Thanks Dougster

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by unionpacific4018

Greetings

I just started back into the hobby and I am modelling HO Scale Union Pacific so that means big radius turns my minimum radius is 36" my biggest is leading into a spur is 60"

Sean

Sean, I am planning a elevated layout around a bedroom. I have a Alleghany 2-6-6-6 also a UP 2-8-8-4. I was planning on using my minimum radius at 32". Will your UP make a 32' or should revaluate my radius to 36".

Thanks Dougster

[LoutheShoe]

What is the outside dimension of a complete circle of 18" radius Bachmann EZ Track?

[mbinsewi]

OK, well, welcome Louthe Shoe.

The radius is measured down the center line of the track, If I remember correctly, so you would have to add what the distance is to the outside of the track from the center,  so roughly, the circle would be about 38" diameter.

Mike.

[SeeYou190]

Why is there an echo in this thread? All the early posts are duplicated.

.

-Kevin

.

[bearman]

My HO layout has mostly 18" curves, a concession to space.  I am modelling the transition era, 1950/early 1960's, and run 4 axle diesels and 40' rolling stock, all freight no passenger trains.  6 axle diesels may be a problem and I have read that 18" curves will take 50' rolling stock with no real issues.  But, I am more than happy wth my layout insofar as the trains I run.

[BigDaddy]

SeeYou190

Why is there an echo in this thread?

Stuff happens in a 15 year old thread.  Another reason to avoid them.

Loutheshoe to the forum.  There is no charge to start your own thread. 

Some advice:

The Atlas track planning book is trying to sell your track and has way too much in too little space.

4x8' layouts are a very popular topic for MR type magazines.  It's dirt easy to buy a sheet of plywood and put it on legs.  They are not very popular among professional layout designers, of which, we have a some in this forum.

I am not a 30" snob, meaning if your radius isn't 30" you are less than a man, send it to the dumpster, do not pass go, do not text girlfriends pictures of your layout or anything else.  Mine are not 30", but if you can, aim for bigger than 18".

Anonymouse

[BigDaddy]

More advice, run your ideas by the layout experts here in the forum (that would not be me)

John Armstrong's book  Track Planning for Realistic Operation is a must.  There is someone who pm'd me, and I need to research your question about the book.