Minimum radius for passenger cars in n scale

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hello,

As I have laid my track I have discovered that my curves are too tight, if that is a right description.

What is the minimum radius I should have in order to run my passenger cars w/ diaphrams without problems?

My track is n scale Atlas - code 80

Thanks

Art

2

I model in HO, so I might be slightly off in the conversion… but anyway, here it goes…

The Walthers 86’ Heavyweight cars I have practically require 30" (min is 24, you can get them to 22 with some surgery…) , so with that assumption, I would assume that for N scale, 12.5-13" would be a bare minimum, though 15-16 14-15" would be easier for them to get around (not to mention it would look better…)

Note that these are the minimums for the curves… bigger is always better

3

To calculate min radius, measure you longest car and multiply by 3.

David B

4

The broader the curve the better. I wouldn’t try running long passenger equipment on anything less than 17" radius curves. Even that may be problematical because there will still be some non-prototypical overhang.

Irv

5

Those diaphrams are going to require 3X curves–the radius of the curve equals three times the length of the passenger cars i.e. 80: heavyweights will require 18" curves; 85’ lightweights will require 19 1/8" curves. Without the diaphrams you could conceivably operate your varnish on 12" and 13 3/4" radius curves; they wouldn’t look very good but they would probably go around!

6

Full length passenger cars with diaphragms should work on 18"-20" radius.I wouldn’t use anything less then 16" radius.