00 Gauge - curve enquiry

[Anonymous]

hi people, i am building a program that helps people create their model railways in great detail, then print then create... obviously.

the only thing is, i need to know the tightest curve for an '00 gauge' track. i contacted hornby but they were about as much use as an inflateble tunnel.

maybe someone out there can enlighten me on this


thanx peeps


Jamie

[IRONROOSTER]

This page http://www.nmra.org/standards/rp-11.html on NMRA's web site gives recommended curves by equipment and includes OO. It was probably developed with North American equipment in mind, but might get you started.
Enjoy
Paul

[michaelstevens]

Most OO and HO equipment will negotiate the 18" (fixed) radius track which comes in the Bachmann and Hornby train sets (e.g. Hogwart's Express).
It doesn't look too good but it works.
18" is also the radius on an Atlas #4 turn-out.
BigBoys, Alleghenies, DD40s etc. often require 22" radius and larger.
I know that Peco offers tighter radius (15" I think) turn-outs and track -- but I wouldn't recommend designing any lay-out with those -- unless it was strictly for trams, trolleys, light rail etc.
At the other extreme; any size radius is possible with "flextrack".
Good luck !

[Anonymous]

It is probably better to recommend a minimum radius as opposed to what is the minimum radius available, as the latter can result in a minimum radius that can only be negotiated by an o-4-o industrial shunter ! MR has recommended a minimum of 24" for HO ( 3.5mm = 1' ), and as OO ( 4mm = 1', 16.5 mm track gauge ) is primarily a British scale 24" is the absolute minimum but preference should be no less than 30". The other related issue is the transition curve from the straight to the actual curve. I suggest reading John Armstrong's books on Track Planning to fully understand this and related issues.

Regards, sunstream2

[IRONROOSTER]

British OO runs on HO track . Historicallly this is because the motors available at the time would not fit in the smaller British engines. Also, British rolling stock is smaller than American (at least historically - I don't know about today). So any track planning probably has to have British OO as a separate category. HO sectional track has been made as small as 10" radius according to my 2002 Walthers and I have some 12" made by Fleischmann years ago (might still make it). Of course getting trains to run on track this sharp requires careful selection. Those Bachman early american train sets might manage it.
Enjoy
Paul