What's the tightest radius...

[EL PARRo]

...that a Rivarossi 2 truck Heisler can handle. I know that the prototype was built for things like that, but I'm just wondering what the model can handle because I might put some track leading to the top of a mountain if it can handle such tight of a radius, maybe 13" or so, or maybe even tighter.

[CNJ831]

The problem here isn't how tight a radius the Heisler can handle - with reasonable truck-swing it will probably make it around a 13" radius - but rather the ability to pull any cars around such a curvature without derailing and that's a different situation altogether. You might be able to get some log buggies around safely but I doubt you could haul any full-sized freight cars through it on a regular basis without problems.

CNJ831

[EL PARRo]

If I did get one, it probably would only haul log buggies, or maybe the ocassional flat car.

[Anonymous]

The one that your locomotive won't go around.[:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

I've seen a layout with 15" radius curves. It worked and looked good with small engines but a Big Boy tender couldn't negotiate the curves.

My minimum is 18" but I shudder when something big or long negotiates it.

Be afraid, very afraid!!!!

[Jetrock]

I'd imagine that a Rivarossi Heisler could handle 12" curves and then some. Disconnect log buggies can manage mighty sharp curves, even in standard-gauge HO, and 40-foot boxcars or flatcars can handle 12" curves just fine as long as you have good track. Logging lines typically don't use anything requiring broad curves, because logging lines typically don't have broad curves.

I'm fond of that Heisler--I just wi***hey made an HOn3 version. Tho if I do a logging layout I may just go standard gauge--the prototype I want to model used a weird "*** gauge" of 45-1/4" width--supposedly because the rod they used for axles for the original strap-iron rail, horse-drawn line serving the wharf was 90-1/2" long and they just cut it in half.

[EL PARRo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergus

I've seen a layout with 15" radius curves. It worked and looked good with small engines but a Big Boy tender couldn't negotiate the curves.

My minimum is 18" but I shudder when something big or long negotiates it.

Be afraid, very afraid!!!!

If I did use this very tight radius, it would only be for the Heisler and the cars that it pulls. The rest of my layout is 22" min. radius.

[Jetrock]

Just so you know, I send my HO scale GP-9's and 50-foot boxcars around 12" radius curves on a fairly regular basis and they do just fine. The neurosis about large turning radius is something that must be overcome by anyone interested in logging or interurban/traction railroading--12" is pretty generous by trolley standards!

[EL PARRo]

How tight of a radius can a Bachmann 3 truck Shay handle? I'd think that it could also handle very tight radii, although the third truck may hinder it a bit.

[EL PARRo]

Anybody?

[Jetrock]

If you've got one, get some plywood and flextrack and take it for some test runs! Considering it's a 3-truck engine it will probably need a little wider curves than a 2-truck Shay or Heisler.

so no, we don't know.

A 44-ton GE diesel will take an 8-9" curve just fine.

[Anonymous]

Hello ELPARRo,

You might be surprised at how gracefully the Rivarossi Heislers negotiate tight curves, uneven surfaces and uneased gradients. I have very shoddy trackwork in the upper logging levels and they handle it like mountain goats.

I run a pair of 2 trucks and a 3 truck. There is no difference in their ability to do anything the 3rd truck is flexibly attached.

I have no Bachmann Shays but I do run a 2 truck and a 3 truck MDC. These are not quite as forgiving as the Heislers but I have not had any binding problems on either. They negotiate the logging line with easy stride. I also have a couple of MDC Climaxes that make easy but noisy work of the line.

No diesel I have run can make it up that far but then there is no reason for them to try.

[Anonymous]

There are an infinite amount of radii between 18" and 0", with 0" being the tightest possible radius. Hope this has been helpful!

[EL PARRo]

I asked about the min. radius that the Bachmann Shay can handle at the bachamnntrains.com message boards, and they told me that it can't handle anything tighter than 15", so that means the Shay is out of the question, so now I'll be getiing a two truck Heisler for sure.