Min Radius for Genesis SD70M

[gumbytrain]

HI guys,

I'm in the process of building a new layout in HO. Due to space limitations my radius curves will be between 18" and 19".

I know it may not look great, but will a Genesis SD70M run on those curves?

Thanks for your help,

Mark

[7600EM_1]

Mark,
May I be the first to welcome you to TrainBoard! You'll have fun and find the site to be very friendly!

As for your radius question and an SD-70M, YES it will run on 18 inch radius track. Isn't very prototypical looking, but I had one in my shop about 2 weeks ago for some custom fitted metal handrailing and had ran it a few times around my Christmas tree display thats using 18 inch radius track being a complete circle. And it ran fine! Didn't look the greatest but, it ran without problems! You may want to concider the clearances in a tunnel or bridge tho being on the curve.... Make the clearances wider to accomadate the overhang so it doesn't catch or scrape somewhere in the whiole running of the curve. I normally use 22 to 28 even 30 inch radius on my layouts. But being the Christmas tree display is running a tiny Mantua 0-4-0, Camelback, and 6 ore hoppers and a bobber caboose, I don't need the wide radius to run these and look good! The entire train is less then a yard stick long so...... And is not to mention cute....

But yes your SD-70M will run on 18 inch radius.... If I were you, I'd try my best to use 22 inch radius track if space would permit it.... This isn't that much of a measurement different from 18 inch radius, but makes a big difference in looks and isn't as hard on the long wheel based trucks of the "SD" class or for the guys running medium steam isn't as hard on their drivers! As for myself, I run Large steam, Articulated/Mallet and need all the curve I can get!

[railery]

Hi Mark welcome to Trainboard. smile.gif

i had a large HO layout up until last year. One of the reasons for dismantling was due to a couple of my curves were 18".

U can run a six axle unit but when pulling a few cars it can bind in the corners. Some six axles even jumped the track.

You want nice smooth flowing trains u should stay with B units or 4 axle and no cars longer than 62' ( 50' better) for 18" radii.

My new layout will have a minimum radius of 24" for the inside rail. Hopefully when i build i might get 26" . My outer rail is 28" and 30".

i would like to run some of those 89' cars. i just hope the minimum radius will work. smile.gif

[gumbytrain]

Hi!

Thanks for the reply.

I know 18" won't look to good, but I'm very short on space. Basically, you could say I have HO ideas on an N scale layout:) Which is actually quite true. I'm taking my old N layout and converting it to HO. Its a 10' by 10' L shaped layout. I'm making it 44" wide at one end and 40" at the other for the return loops.

My space for the curve is 40".

I'm trying to start with 22" radius and then use 18" once I'm in the curve.

I may try a few more designs in 3rd planit and see what I can come up with using 22" curves.

Mainly I would run small steam or diesels with 40' cars, so the 18" radius isn't that bad looking.

But, I have learned that what I want to "normally" run on my layout changes like the weather.

[railery]

Small steam and diesel will look good. i ran one Mike on my layout and had no problems. The shorter six axle units may be okay too. i just found them finicky. But the newer diesels forget it. They are too long and u will have problems. Stay away from SD 40-2s too. They seem to be light over the trucks and can jump the track with 18" radius. The 22" radius is better but still those longer engines don't look as nice but they will pull through. Maybe there is something to the radius jumps, 18 , 24 , and 30".

[C41-8W]

I my layout (very small layout!!) all diesel are ok with the 18 inch radius track; also the recent Kato SD90/43 (and the SD70 Genesis). The problems that I have met are with the locomotive coupler when pull the freight cars, particularly the intermodal. For this reason I will have to increase the radius track minimum 24''.

:D :D