minimum radius

[asciibaron]

I think at 15" is going to be fine for your loops Steve.

I'm using 36R" return loops and I'm not noticing any encroachment into the isles!

i have to be able to shuttle luggage and a christmas tree past the layout.

[ednadolski]

 15" is the best i can fit in my space, so it might just be moot.

You might want to include easements, as they generally improve appearance and operation.

On the sharper curves, you might also want to see if you can't work in some viewblocks (hills, trees, cuts, tunnels, structures, ...).   Used judiciously, they can help make a layout seem larger.  Likewise for large radius 'cosmetic' curves in place of stretches of tangent track.

Longer turnouts are also better, if you can fit them in.  Curved turnouts, placed strategically, can also help make best use of available space.

Ed

[asciibaron]

Longer turnouts are also better, if you can fit them in.  Curved turnouts, placed strategically, can also help make best use of available space.

i think i have a solution to my problem - one 17'' and one 15' with easements should fit the bill

[GaryHinshaw]

i think i have a solution to my problem - one 17'' and one 15' with easements should fit the bill

15' with easements will be sweet! 

The appearance of long cars on curves depends somewhat on viewing angle.  Here is a string of 89' flats on a 20" curve viewed from above:



(the trailer straddling the long-runner set tends to soften the blow in this shot, but nonetheless it doesn't look too bad.)  Now the same setup viewed from closer to eye level:



Ouch!  Try running a prototype long-runner on those curves...  Even the relatively tight curves on Tehachapi correspond to ~48" radius.  Oh well.

[Mark5]

Interesting read here:

http://zierke.com/shasta_route/pages/13history.html

[Chris333]

Not that it applies, but the Uintah Railway had a 65 degree (88' R) curve on a 7.5% grade. They ran 2-6-6-2T's on it!
http://bpratt15.home.bresnan.net/images/UintahMallet75.jpg
There are two curves this sharp on the RR, but only one was on a grade.

[oakcreekco]

Two things to ALWAYS consider and DO on curves:

1) Easements
2) SuperElevation

Once you've experienced these two "little" things, you never lay another curve without them. Really

[asciibaron]

Two things to ALWAYS consider and DO on curves:

1) Easements
2) SuperElevation

Once you've experienced these two "little" things, you never lay another curve without them. Really

i always use easements, i've never used superelevation.

[davefoxx]

I just built a new layout that includes easements and superelevation.  This is my first time building superelevated curves, and, man, I love watching a train lean over as it enters the curve and stand back up as it exits.  Fascinating!  My minimum radius is 10", (yep, excruciatingly small) but I have no problems, due to the use of vertical easements to raise the superelevated outer rail.  It looks ridiculous, but I did successfully run a Life Like E8 pulling two Walthers 10-6 sleepers without derailment!

DFF

[asciibaron]

I just built a new layout that includes easements and superelevation.  This is my first time building superelevated curves, and, man, I love watching a train lean over as it enters the curve and stand back up as it exits.  Fascinating!  My minimum radius is 10", (yep, excruciatingly small) but I have no problems, due to the use of vertical easements to raise the superelevated outer rail.  It looks ridiculous, but I did successfully run a Life Like E8 pulling two Walthers 10-6 sleepers without derailment!

DFF

do you have a video on youtube yet?

[davefoxx]

Steve,

No, but I'll be glad to post some pics in the next few days to demonstrate the curves, if you'd like.

DFF

[NorfolkSouthern9708]

I'm at loss here, what do you guys mean by "easements"?

[asciibaron]

I'm at loss here, what do you guys mean by "easements"?

http://www.trackplanning.com/easements.htm

[oakcreekco]

I just built a new layout that includes easements and superelevation.  This is my first time building superelevated curves, and, man, I love watching a train lean over as it enters the curve and stand back up as it exits.  Fascinating!  My minimum radius is 10", (yep, excruciatingly small) but I have no problems, due to the use of vertical easements to raise the superelevated outer rail.  It looks ridiculous, but I did successfully run a Life Like E8 pulling two Walthers 10-6 sleepers without derailment!

DFF

Yep, nothing like it.  Any era/type of loco or rolling stock just looks "right" in a "curve". 

This was a real stumbling block for me on my small pike, due to many options on how to do it. Thought it out for quite a while,  and once I decided the "method", it went fast, was easy, and the results were very "prototypical".

[asciibaron]

i figured i use styrene shims to get superevelation.  that will look sweet!