Look for any suggestion of larger trains that work with 4ft radius curves. If there is any out.
almost everything will run on a 4’ RADIUS curve. afterall thats an 8’ diameter circle.
Did you mean a 4’ DIAMETER ???
I run my 1:20.3 Bachmann Shays (which measure about 23" over the couplers) on a 4ft circle during the holidays. I use Kadee #821 or #921 couplers. I assume when you say “Large Trains” you’re referring to LARGE SCALE Engines and that you mean diameter vs radius.
I run a Bachmann Shay with truck-mounted Kadee couplers on 4’ radius. It works fine. I originally tried body-mounted, but got some derailments on a few 2’ radius areas that I, unfortunately, needed to have. Body-mounted couplers should work all day at 4’. I also run a Bachmann Climax with body-mounted Kadee couplers on 4’ radius with no problem (no problem at 2’ radius either). In addition, I run an Aristo-Craft railbus without problems.
There are limitations to 4’ radius, however, that should be watched for, especially on some of the larger, newer offerings. I believe all LGB locos, no matter what size and wheel arrangement are designed to work all the way down to 2’ radius. Their latest offering, the 2-8-2 Mikado, has a pivot point between driver axles 2 and 3 and the connecting rods to allow it to negotiate tight curves. I have heard it looks a little strange, but it works. I believe USA Trains,’ Aristo-Craft’s and MTH’s -8- and the MTH Challenger will not work at 4’, but will at 5’ (please verify this before buying anything). I have also learned from mylargescale.com that the Bachmann outside frame Consolidation will work at 4’, but with groaning noises and some interference (but the interference can be modified out). The B’mann Connie should really only run at 5’ radius and above.
I can’t speak for the modern long diesels. I think they will probably negotiate the curves, but may have a very unusual appearance as their bodies will significantly overhang the curve.
Basically, I try to follow the following rules.
- Any four wheel driver loco should work (i.e. 0-4-0, 2-4-2).
- Probably any six wheel driver loco should work (i.e. 4-6-0, 2-6-0).
- Assume all eight wheel driver locos won’t work (i.e. 2-8-2, 4-8-2) unless verified by manufacturer.
- Any small wheeled, two-truck loco should work (i.e. Shay, Climax, F3, GP), but verify clearances on curves, especially approaching and leaving tunnels and bridges.
The Aristo-Craft Fa-B-A locos run well on 4’ diameter track.
Yours truly,
Lewis Polk Aristo-Craft Train
How about a SD-45 on 5’ radius?? I want to get one of the Seaboard System locos to go with my U-25B for Christmas, but want to make sure it will operate. I do not care if it looks funny going around the curves, most of them are behind Couch Mountain, the name I give the couch in the living room with trains running behind it. The wife doesn’t much care for the couch being a extra foot out into the room, but that is another topic for another time.
sd 45 will work good on a 5’ radius which = 10’ circle looks real also.
Will the Aristo SD45 work on an 8 foot diamiter curve though??? I was planning to buy one in the relativly near furture but am limited to 8 foot diamiter curves on one section of my layout.
Hi all,
I run my Bachmann 2-8-0 on a 40" radius curve built with code 197 rail on redwood ties and have not experienced any problems. However my track is built on plastic spline roadbed so its very solid, this may make a difference.
Keep-on-trackin’…OLD DAD
In order to fit in with the shape and slopes of my garden, a 4foot radius (8 foot diameter ) curve was needed, which is not seen from normal viewing points.
There are larger radius transition curves leading into the turn, which I think helps a lot.
My Bachman 2-8-0 has no problems negotiating the turn and the SD-45 just glides around it, like it does all turns and switches!
The track is Aristo and for this tight turn pre-formed curves were used.
I posted a forum discussing the aristocraft doodlebug and the feasibility of running it on 4 ft. diameter curves. It looks like no doodlebug for me, oh well. We all agree that 4 and 5 ft. dia. curves are the least desirable setups to have, in fact unavoidable in some instances. However, there are many locomotives and stock which run on them just fine. Probably more able to run on the smaller curves than not able to.
Can all who have encountered a problem with any type of locomotive or rolling stock please report in on what you did to fix it. i.e. change coupler setup, sell off or return offending item, kept as a expensive reminder. etc…
Having the 4 ft. diameter curve has limited my ability to dream. Oh well, things could be worse!! Hope to have some interesting and informative posts to help keep all of us out of trouble. Thanks.
Pete
p.s. found a dead skunk out on my right of way this a.m. the gnomes were busy last night. I wi***hey bagged what they killed though.
Look for any suggestion of larger trains that work with 4ft radius curves. If there is any out.
almost everything will run on a 4’ RADIUS curve. afterall thats an 8’ diameter circle.
Did you mean a 4’ DIAMETER ???
I run my 1:20.3 Bachmann Shays (which measure about 23" over the couplers) on a 4ft circle during the holidays. I use Kadee #821 or #921 couplers. I assume when you say “Large Trains” you’re referring to LARGE SCALE Engines and that you mean diameter vs radius.
I run a Bachmann Shay with truck-mounted Kadee couplers on 4’ radius. It works fine. I originally tried body-mounted, but got some derailments on a few 2’ radius areas that I, unfortunately, needed to have. Body-mounted couplers should work all day at 4’. I also run a Bachmann Climax with body-mounted Kadee couplers on 4’ radius with no problem (no problem at 2’ radius either). In addition, I run an Aristo-Craft railbus without problems.
There are limitations to 4’ radius, however, that should be watched for, especially on some of the larger, newer offerings. I believe all LGB locos, no matter what size and wheel arrangement are designed to work all the way down to 2’ radius. Their latest offering, the 2-8-2 Mikado, has a pivot point between driver axles 2 and 3 and the connecting rods to allow it to negotiate tight curves. I have heard it looks a little strange, but it works. I believe USA Trains,’ Aristo-Craft’s and MTH’s -8- and the MTH Challenger will not work at 4’, but will at 5’ (please verify this before buying anything). I have also learned from mylargescale.com that the Bachmann outside frame Consolidation will work at 4’, but with groaning noises and some interference (but the interference can be modified out). The B’mann Connie should really only run at 5’ radius and above.
I can’t speak for the modern long diesels. I think they will probably negotiate the curves, but may have a very unusual appearance as their bodies will significantly overhang the curve.
Basically, I try to follow the following rules.
- Any four wheel driver loco should work (i.e. 0-4-0, 2-4-2).
- Probably any six wheel driver loco should work (i.e. 4-6-0, 2-6-0).
- Assume all eight wheel driver locos won’t work (i.e. 2-8-2, 4-8-2) unless verified by manufacturer.
- Any small wheeled, two-truck loco should work (i.e. Shay, Climax, F3, GP), but verify clearances on curves, especially approaching and leaving tunnels and bridges.
The Aristo-Craft Fa-B-A locos run well on 4’ diameter track.
Yours truly,
Lewis Polk Aristo-Craft Train
How about a SD-45 on 5’ radius?? I want to get one of the Seaboard System locos to go with my U-25B for Christmas, but want to make sure it will operate. I do not care if it looks funny going around the curves, most of them are behind Couch Mountain, the name I give the couch in the living room with trains running behind it. The wife doesn’t much care for the couch being a extra foot out into the room, but that is another topic for another time.
sd 45 will work good on a 5’ radius which = 10’ circle looks real also.
Will the Aristo SD45 work on an 8 foot diamiter curve though??? I was planning to buy one in the relativly near furture but am limited to 8 foot diamiter curves on one section of my layout.
Hi all,
I run my Bachmann 2-8-0 on a 40" radius curve built with code 197 rail on redwood ties and have not experienced any problems. However my track is built on plastic spline roadbed so its very solid, this may make a difference.
Keep-on-trackin’…OLD DAD