Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Walthers TTX front runners, minimum radius?

1838 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, April 1, 2019 7:21 PM

I ran them at the end of a train, much for same reason the prototypes did.  I only have 4 or 5.

I don't run them any more, again, much the same as the prototypes. Smile, Wink & Grin  I should put them on Ebay with some outdated trailers.  They seem to sell.

Mike.

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Monday, April 1, 2019 7:15 PM

I used to have four of them but backdated and sold them. I always heard the minimum radius was a lot higher than one would assume for such a short car due to the single axles.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    March 2019
  • 5 posts
Posted by Masterist Scale Railroad Models on Monday, April 1, 2019 3:21 PM

mbinsewi

I also have a few of these.  I have 24" radius, no problems, I run mine at the end of a train, because thay can be prone to derailments if  heavy train is placed behind them, just like the prorotype.

Mike.

 

 
What I am finding - rail code really affects the radius too: wider rail such as coarse Code 100 means flanges grind all the way up to 60", finer Code 83 rail - much better performance on 28" curves, when substituted Bachmann EZ track 28" Code 100 with same radius of Micro Engineering track. So I partially take my words back, but any track imperfection even something little like rail quality will do it.
  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, April 1, 2019 8:46 AM

I also have a few of these.  I have 24" radius, no problems, I run mine at the end of a train, because thay can be prone to derailments if  heavy train is placed behind them, just like the prorotype.

Mike.

  • Member since
    March 2019
  • 5 posts
Posted by Masterist Scale Railroad Models on Sunday, March 31, 2019 9:38 PM

Don Z

Gary,

The truck is part of the car body; it doesn't turn. There's no need for it to turn since there's only a single axle under each end of the car. I don't own any of these cars, but I'd be willing to bet they could handle a radius as tight as 18".

Don Z.

 
They can be placed stationary on any curve down to 11" (I have such sectional track from Marklin), but anything less than 28" (I used Bachmann sectional track in 18* segments to try it out) is prone to derailment. The minimum radius where flanges stopped grinding and trying to climb the rail is 35.75" (German Piko R9 curve with 908mm radius). Safe push-pull when this car was compressed by heavy consist on both sides was achieved on Roco R20 (1962mm or 76") radius. Very impractical car to run on compact layouts.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • 135 posts
Posted by nickl02 on Monday, January 22, 2007 5:16 AM
I actually have a few of these.  They will run on the 18" radius, but the 22" is a much better fit.
  • Member since
    September 2006
  • 380 posts
Posted by Gary UK on Monday, January 22, 2007 2:43 AM

Thanks Don.

Funily enough i just dug out my H0 scale rule to get an idea of the lenght of these cars. , if the it was loaded with a 48" trailer it makes the car carrying it only about 8" long max. My minimum radii is 24" so they ought to be fine.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 1,752 posts
Posted by Don Z on Sunday, January 21, 2007 3:51 PM

Gary,

The truck is part of the car body; it doesn't turn. There's no need for it to turn since there's only a single axle under each end of the car. I don't own any of these cars, but I'd be willing to bet they could handle a radius as tight as 18".

Don Z.

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • 380 posts
Walthers TTX front runners, minimum radius?
Posted by Gary UK on Sunday, January 21, 2007 3:28 PM

Does anyone know the minimum radii these cars  http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-39813 will operate on?

Had a look on the site but it dosent mention it!

Are the trucks fixed on the model or will they turn on curves?

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!