Curves on Model Railroads

[rickb773]

Are you guys asleep?


I expected more feedback following my article in the March 2022 Model Railroad Hobbyist on creative ways to handle/hide curves on Model Railroads.
Surely you guys have some unexpected solutions to add.



The article can be found at: https://online.fliphtml5.com/buups/pugh/index.html#p=103

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Well *****! Now I need to go read it!

I almost never stay up to date on MRH because it's digital. They end up getting saved up for flights, etc...

[rickb773]

Well *****! Now I need to go read it!

I almost never stay up to date on MRH because it's digital. They end up getting saved up for flights, etc...

Well, go fly somewhere!

[davefoxx]

I don't generally keep up to date on MRH, either, but your article looks interesting.  I'll try to remember to take a look at it tonight.

DFF

[wcfn100]

Tracks parallel to the bench doesn't ruin anything for me. 

Compression can ruin a scene for me, however.  And when you add an S curve just to avoid being parallel, you're basically compressing the scene from any sort of prototypical situation, usually pretty drastically.


Jason

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Well, go fly somewhere!

I actually am! Heading to Chicago next week for work. But the big question: Des Plaines or Lombard...

[NtheBasement]

Tracks parallel to the bench doesn't ruin anything for me. 

Same.

I do have one mountainous section with curves for the sake of curves just because its more interesting to watch than trains running in a straight line.

[Chris333]

I think the parallel track thing is mostly for folks with a low layout height. My layout is around 62" track level so you could barely even tell if the track was parallel or not.

[mu26aeh]

I actually am! Heading to Chicago next week for work. But the big question: Des Plaines or Lombard...

Both

I usually only got to MRH for one discussion topic.  The B&O/PC Cincinnati West - Construction

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/bopc-cincinnati-west-construction-12196885?&trail=25

[rickb773]

What happened to CURVE IDEAS???

That was the purpose of the article.

[oakcreekco]

I like curves, as long as they're super elevated.

[reinhardtjh]

Both

I usually only got to MRH for one discussion topic.  The B&O/PC Cincinnati West - Construction

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/bopc-cincinnati-west-construction-12196885?&trail=25

That's funny.  I know Randy personally.  He was part of the group that I operated with when I lived in SW Ohio.  At least until his schedule changed and he was either working, doing something with his girls or operating on another layout.  He's a nice guy and so funny. 

[ednadolski]

I expected more feedback following my article in the March 2022 Model Railroad Hobbyist on creative ways to handle/hide curves on Model Railroads.
Surely you guys have some unexpected solutions to add.

"Two things can ruin the realism of a model railroad: turnback curves and running tracks parallel to the edge of the layout.

I would offer a few more:  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=52066.msg710706#msg710706

Ed

[John]

I finally got around to reading your article - nicely done and a lot of good suggestions for beginners and more experienced model railroaders .. several of them I use myself on my layout . I liked the suggestions on keeping the trains from falling off the end loop, since I have 5 of them around peninsulas .. most of the techniques you mentioned I use ..

Congratulations on getting published in MRH

I have a problem area with this bridge -- it's not easy to provide protection to the trains .. I think I will add a walkway on the front side -



A couple of 180 turn backs - showing my slight build up to catch derailed cars .. so far nothing has fallen









I also use some tunnels to hide 180s ..





The nice thing (bad) thing about pictures -- it highlights all the flaws .. I really need to paint this white an earth color ..

[Maletrain]

Getting back to why there would be a curve in the track, I'll suggest 2 more:

1. Roads and rail lines often are turned to align them perpendicular to something that has to be bridged, especially a waterway.  In the case of a rail line, it may be following a river, curve away from it to get the room to make a turn toward it to reach it perpendicular to its banks.   So, multiple curves to choose from if you use just part of that.

2.  In yard areas with engine facilities, real railroads not infrequently used what we call "return loops" to turn engines without putting them on turntables.  These even sometimes went around the round houses.  I remember seeing several areal photos posted here on TRW a while ago that showed some of those.