18" and 22" turns, benchwork, and ignorance.

[Anonymous]

Many of you helped me last week to get my ideas organized and on paper. I am hoping for a bit more help. I have been reading that longer engines and freight don't look good on the smaller radius turns and as I am building benchwork today I want to avoid this pitfall. I have been told that 4' of table are required for an 18" turn around and after buying some Tru-Track sections in 22" radius it appears that this same 4' will do the job as well. Am I missing something or is this space sufficient? Additionally after snapping some chalk lines on the floor it is looking like I am going to be a little cramped for personal space. I am hoping I can generate some more space for my boy and I by narrowing the straight sections of the benchwork from 3' to 2.5' and rounding the angles with a jig saw. Will narrowing the straights by 6" create operational issues?

My design is an "L" along a wall in the corner of our garage. Current plans are 9' x 7' at 3' or 2.5 ' and widening at the ends to 4', however I can modify this a couple of feet in each direction with some reorganization of things in the garage.
Please help.
Thanks,
Jacob

[tstage]

Jacob,

I have a 4 x 8' layout and I use R22" curves on all but three curved pieces of my mainline. It only allows about an 1-1'/2 of buffer but I think it looks and runs better on the larger radii.

Tom

[Anonymous]

I run 22" on my outside mainline on a 4x8. I fits fine with a 1 1/2" buffer on each edge along the straights, and I used a 2" straight section in the middle of the 22" curve to widen it out a bit.

Using a 22" without the straights in the middle of the curve should give you plenty of room. See my pics at the link in my signature to get some idea of how it fits.

[fec153]

I use 22" radii curves and have no trouble with 4-8-4 or my E33.
I have a 4x5 table connected to a 19' shelf and then to a 4x6 table. Good luck.
Flip

[IRONROOSTER]

In a 4' width 22" radius curves is the most you can run. If you run a passing track on the curve, you have to run it to the inside at about 19 1/2" or so.

This page on the NMRA's site gives recommended curves for different length cars and engines. http://www.nmra.org/standards/rp-11.html

This one covers track centers in curves
http://www.nmra.org/standards/s-8.html

Longer equipment is frequently made to run through these curves, but usually doesn't look too good because of the overhang. You may also have to run it at slower speeds.

A lot here depends on what you are trying to do. If you want to run 85' modern freight cars and some of the new long diesels, or 85' passenger cars and big boy locomotives then you ought to try to get your curves up to 30" (40" would be better). Both appearance and operation are better. Of course if you want to run the long stuff and don't have the room for wide curves, then go with tighter curves and live with the overhang and running slow to avoid derailments. If you keep the your equipment down to 50'-60' then 22" will work well.

Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much, I will go with the 22" main line. I am partial to F's and my son is partial to the Northerns and Mountains so I think we will both be happy. I am concerned with the 2.5' narrows. What type of issues will I encounter in such limited width?

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: ...22" radius it appears that this same 4' will do the job as well. Am I missing something or is this space sufficient? Additionally after snapping some chalk lines on the floor it is looking like I am going to be a little cramped for personal space. I am hoping I can generate some more space for my boy and I by narrowing the straight sections of the benchwork from 3' to 2.5' and rounding the angles with a jig saw. Will narrowing the straights by 6" create operational issues?

22" radius is the MAXIMUM curve that will fit on a 4' board. Reducing straight sections will not create operational issues.

Your RR should be desined to fit your ROOM, not a piece of Plywood board. A dual return loop Dogbone 'L' will require access holes in each loop and legs of 9' each.
You have allowed enought for 1 return loop. Out and back.

If you obtain a compass, ruler, and drawing pad with coss lines, you can plot out several possible layout's for your Space before committing, to give you a head start.