riogrande5761 snjroy My layout has ZERO inclines (despite their spectacular effect, I've seen how difficult it is for operations at our local club). All my benchwork is at level. I still had to make some ajustments by adding some shims to level the track laterally. Simon How steep are the grades? I had a 2.5% grade on one layout and two 4-axles diesels could pull 20 cars up the grade ok. I had 2.9% on my last layout and two 6-axle SD45's could pull 22 cars upgrade ok. Really anything at 2% or less should be no problem.
snjroy My layout has ZERO inclines (despite their spectacular effect, I've seen how difficult it is for operations at our local club). All my benchwork is at level. I still had to make some ajustments by adding some shims to level the track laterally. Simon
My layout has ZERO inclines (despite their spectacular effect, I've seen how difficult it is for operations at our local club). All my benchwork is at level. I still had to make some ajustments by adding some shims to level the track laterally.
Simon
How steep are the grades? I had a 2.5% grade on one layout and two 4-axles diesels could pull 20 cars up the grade ok. I had 2.9% on my last layout and two 6-axle SD45's could pull 22 cars upgrade ok. Really anything at 2% or less should be no problem.
hon30critterThat was my concern with the 2" foam sheets not lining up perfectly level with each other. I have figured out how to stabilize them.
Where my foam did not line up perfectly I just took a rasp to it where the track was going to level things out. The surrounding uneven foam is just the lay of the land.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
hon30critter rrinker Oh it's possible for one piece of equipment to find that slightly higher spot. I really need to post the video of my camera car catching on the grade crossing and rolling off the bridge that followed, right into the 'river'. Hi Randy, That was my concern with the 2" foam sheets not lining up perfectly level with each other. I have figured out how to stabilize them. I'll go into more detail on my layout thread. Dave
rrinker Oh it's possible for one piece of equipment to find that slightly higher spot. I really need to post the video of my camera car catching on the grade crossing and rolling off the bridge that followed, right into the 'river'.
Hi Randy,
That was my concern with the 2" foam sheets not lining up perfectly level with each other. I have figured out how to stabilize them. I'll go into more detail on my layout thread.
Dave
I ran my Rapido RDC through a 22 inch radius S- curve with no derailment.
You should be OK.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
rrinkerOh it's possible for one piece of equipment to find that slightly higher spot. I really need to post the video of my camera car catching on the grade crossing and rolling off the bridge that followed, right into the 'river'.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Oh it's possible for one piece of equipment to find that slightly higher spot. I really need to post the video of my camera car catching on the grade crossing and rolling off the bridge that followed, right into the 'river'.
No other train, over the full week the layout was on display with trains running constantly, ever got hung up there. Just my camera car. It also managed to clip the inside of the tunnel once, - where double stacks had no problem. Or our special "higha nd wide" train - a highly unrealistic train made up of multiple large loads like bridge guirders, tanks, and other such oversize bits which often span multiple flat cars with idlers in between. Rather than tack a restricted load on to a regular train now and then, we just have them all made into one train, which in many places cannot pass another train on the other main, and in at least one station, needs to take the center track to avoid strking either platform. It doesn't get run that often, needless to say.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks everyone for your responses. I'm relieved to know that will actually be able to run them on my layout.
I recognize that 24" curves aren't ideal but that is what I have to work with. The layout is basically a big double oval so a couple of the inside loop curves are slightly tighter radii. However, I will rarely have to run the RDCs on the inner track in order to make the layout work. The only reason to go onto the inner loop would be to get the RDCs into the service area.
Cheers!!
This review https://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/staff-reviews/2018/05/product-review-rapido-trains-ho-budd-rail-diesel-car said it handled 18" curves and #4 turnouts, albeit with overhang obviously, so +-24" should be easy
ive run them on 22" without any problems, except make sure clearances on curves are adequate. They look/run much nicer on my new layout with 30" min radius curves.
Gary
Hi folks,
I should have asked this question before I just spent several hundred dollars on a couple of Rapido RDCs. The curves on my layout will be +- 24" radii. Will the Rapido RDCs run on that?
The manual that accompanies the RDCs doesn't give a specific answer, nor does the website (at least that I can find). The manual suggests that if your curves are somewhat tight then you might consider installing a long shank coupler on one end of the cars. It also suggests that if you need long shank couplers on both ends then you shouldn't be running RDCs at all. I appreciate Jason's sense of humour, but in this case I find the ambiguity to be a bit annoying. Will they run on 24" or not?!?
Thanks,