Sorry Rio Yes HO. Sometimes I forget there are other scales beside HO I have a lot of ideas in my head and a lot unreal or unfeasable ones too. Like a 3 engine 20-30 car Amtrak running out side attached to my fence with a run of 200' on 48" curves
The original poster did not mention what scale he is planning to model in but it looks like most/all have assumed HO based on the figures and information. If it is other than HO, Gator should let us know.
Yes, decisions, decisions.
If HO, I'd agree with the 30-inch absolute minimum although not many home layouts can manage 48-inch curves at it tends to severely limit track plans for the typical home space. I had to go with an around the wall layout in my 10x18' room to get my 32-inch minimum. Most scale length passenger cars (85') require minimum radii of arond 22 or 24 inches, depending on the model and make in HO, and it's usually very wise to not go with that minimum if you can help it.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Gator,
If you want to run full length passenger cars on your layout, I recommend an absolute minimum of 30" radius. And I strongly recommend 48" radius. Or even larger, if you can. This would be mainline only. Where you're switching freight it can get a lot smaller.
It's just been pointed out that model manufacturers produce passenger cars that will work on 18" curves. And, generally, the are shrunken in length to do that. And then those cars aren't actually models of anything--they're adaptations.
You'll need to decide on the minimum mainline radius. If you choose "small", you will NOT be able to run an awful lot of passenger car models. But you'll get a whole lot more track in.
Decisions, decisions.
Lion pointed out that you can limit the amount of the layout that accepts passenger cars. A variation on what he's talking about is to have a wide radius circle of track all around a room. For 3 sides, it's covered by a little dinky branchline. So the big mainline trains just come and go at the interchange on one side. And the branch line has little bitty curves. And the mostly hidden mainline has wide curves. It's an idea.
Ed
I can help with your question. It depends on the CSX train you want to run. I could give a few examples.
(CSX tracks) Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Auto Train.
(shared with NS and CSX tracks) The Lake Shore Limited, Cardinal, Carolinians, Capital Limited, Crescent, Silver Star.
I hope this helps a little, but more information would be better.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Well, if you want to run your AMTK trains across vistas, wide curves, etc... That is one thing, but there are other ways of running AMTK.
Picture a terminal somewhere... If you want CSX then call it Norfork VA, and design a terminal operation. Pax train comes in from hiding and into the station. Switchers must come out and take the train apart, diners, maybe sleepers go to the cleaning tracks, train is rebuilt and gets ready for its departure later in the day.
Maybe a couple of commuter trains come in and depart during rush hours, There may be a CSX yard near by. You do not need big sweeping curves, or the ones that you do have can be hidden behind buildings and other scenic elements.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Hi, Gator and Welcome!
You could browse at this site and ask questions there:
http://acmodels.boards.net/
Operating Amtrak or any other passenger equipment on our "compressed" sized layouts always necessitates compromise, as you have already mentioned.
There is plenty of Amtrak equipment out there, Con-Cor and Athearn come to mind, that is reduced in length and designed to operate on 18" radius curves.
Over the years CSX was host to many eastern Amtrak trains and some were smaller regional trains that may run only three or four cars, just right for our reduced size empires.
Have fun, Ed
I'm still in the planning stages of my layout but I was thinking about adding a few Amtrack trains. I know I would need big curves and a big layout but right now I'm just looking for someone that might be running this equipment or knows a web site or group that does That could give me some ideas. (CSX mid 80's to around 2005)