On30 Question

[preceng]

Happy Holidays All.

I am putting together a real around the tree train this year. When I say real, I mean not the $30 - battery powered plastic Wal-Mart X-Mas special (bye-bye walmart). Since I model in HO (the rest of the year), I am considering getting an On30 train to use with my existing track (I seem to have some extra laying around). I was looking at the Bachmann series, but have a question.

Would the 2-6-0 Loco be able to negotiate 18" or even 15" radii? If not, what min should I be looking at?

As always, Thanks for the help.

[Anonymous]

On30 stuff theoretically should negotiate the same track layout as HO. So, shorter wheel base engines and short cars should be ok with 18" radius, or even 15". I do not know for sure, but a 2-6-0, while a small loco, might be the "breaking point" for the really small radii. You'll have to test it and see I guess. A really small loco like a 0-4-0 porter use in logging operations, might be better.

If you are going around the tree, I would guess that 18" is probably the minimum anyway, since that makes a circle 3 feet across. You don't want to have the train tucked too far under the tree in case of "emergency", and you will want it to be seen...

Hope that is helpful.

Andrew

[Jetrock]

The track that the On30 train set comes with is typically 18" radius, so 18" radius should not present a problem. 15" might be pushing it, but it will probably work--as Andrew mentions, though, you'd risk the layout being lost under the tree!