I am working with what I have. What do you think about a train of double stacks and Con-Cor Autoracks traveling on a 11" R U-curve (horseshoe, whatever you want to call it) while going up/down a 4% grade crossing. If I had the space, Id go 19" R 1.5%, but I dont. Cya Down the Line! Dash www.dashtrak.com
If you make it a switching layout with tight corners and short trains it will work. I have a bizarre curve and grade, worse than yours; but it does limit what you can run. In my new layout I am trying to stay and 2.2 or less. But I do understand space limitations. You can do whatever you want as long as you chose a protypical theme which would support your limitations. In reality, you can do anything you want without rules, but by taking your theme from prototypical situations, your own theme becomes more believable.
Dash, In My Humble Opinion, if I don't have the space, and I really want to run my train, and I have rubber tired engines that will claw their way up a 6% grade with me riding on a flat car and go around a 6" radius, then I suggest you get a firm grip on something very solid and hold on and just watch me! Grr-r-r-f! Prototype or no, if I can get an 88 foot car to follow my 0-2-0 diesel around a 4" radius curve, then I'll do it even if it takes a bull dozer to push! But you have to understand one thing. I'm not opinionated, and I am certainly not stubborn! I will, however, run my train!! ------------------ Watash #982
Hey Dash, What you have is what you work with. It probly will work on 11" curves, but you will probly have a few derailments. I have 13" min. radius curves on my layout and the autoracks I have go through them ok but they don't look all that great. I know how it is when you have to work with what you have. Wish I had a basement full of trains, but not yet. Talk to ya later. Dan http://gotrains.homestead.com/MYRAILMODEL.html
The autoracks will run round that curve radius, but not if they are ahead of the stack cars! The Con Cor racks are too light, and need weighting up to or above the NMRA recommendations. Best to keep them at the rear of the train. Otherwise, they do tend to want to lie on their sides ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
Dash, I concur with Alan regarding the autoracks. I do see problems with long cars negotiating tight curves with a grade or grade change in them. It's asking for trouble. Gary. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page TrainBoard Moderator and Member No.377 N to the Nth degree!
When considering intermodal trains, I have found this saying I made up helpful: "Stacks before 'Racks!" Common BNSF practice is to put the autoracks at the end of the trains anyhow, and since I model BNSF, I think they will blend in nicely! Thanks for the tips on weighing them down, I do realize they need weight, but I may go higher than NMRA standards. Autoracks do look bad on 11" radius curves. To solve this eyesore, I have tunneled my turnaround curve. Autoracks look better on concave curves, but I can't take out all 11" convex curves. Hopefully when I get more space I can lessen up the grade, and use my motive power elswhere! Cya down the line! Dash www.dashtrak.com
Alan, I have had the same problem with my microtrains 89' flats in front of stacks. Are your flats heavier or do you recommend running them behind the stacks also?
I did some short tests with my flats, empty, with some heavy cars behind them, with no problems whatever As they are cast metal, the weight is all low down so they track well. ------------------ Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12 The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
Been there, done that. Nothing but frustration. If space is a problem, I would have a switching layout with next to no curves. I waited a long time to have a min of 15" radius and no more than 2% grade and still have the odd derailment with a heavy train caused by the radius and grade as far as I can tell. Next up min radius of 20 inches. Don't know when but I honestly believe that is what it will take for smooth running and realistic appearance. ------------------ Robin member #35 Maberly and Tayside
The curves on the ends of my layout (due to space limitations) are 12". I can run racks around them but my Walthers 5-pack doesn't like em. Guess oldstyle pig flats are my limit. No, I can't widen my curves any more although I'd sure like another inch on the south end. The aisle between the benchwork and the bed (guest room wraparound) is down to 28 inches now. The benchwork by the foot of the bed is 36 inches.
Welcome to trainboard, saludamtn I can run Walthers five-unit stack cars around my 12" curves (I think they may be down to 11" in places), without any problems. What problems do you encounter? Maybe the articulated joins are stiff, or binding. I would also like to have larger radius curves, but I still have fun with my railroad, which is what matters ------------------ Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12 The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
