Minimum turnout for 72' passenger cars.

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

What is the minimum # turnout you can use in a yard with 72’ passenger cars before you run into problems with uncoupling and derailments?

Thanks

Sheldon

2

Hi…not sure but if I may add to yours. Min rad for a Veranda w/tender. Thx…

3

On my old layout, they worked fine in a yard with #4 turnouts.

Rich

4

I have run Con Cor and Athearn 72’ cars for years on #4s with no problems.

5

Good to know #4’s will work. Read a couple of articles and both authors claimed nothing less than #6 would work for 72’ cars.

Thanks for the info.

Sheldon

6

Nonsense, I ran strings of Athearn 72’ passenger cars through them all the time.

Now, 85’ passenger cars might not like #4 turnouts, but they are just fine for 72’ cars.

Rich

7

FWIW: Back in the day, Athearn 72’ and the later ConCor 72’ cars were designed to run on the then common 18" curve track and 18’ radius snap switches, while reducing the overhang associated with running on tight radius curves.

ConCor, AHM-Rivarossi and IHC 85’ passenger cars with truck mounted couplers are capable of operating on 18" radius curves and #4 switches but have severe overhang issues.

8

Hi!

Full size HO passenger cars “can” be made to run over #4 turnouts with no problems. To do this, one needs to avoid S curves in/out of the turnout, and make sure the couplers and trucks don’t bind on anything.

That being said, # 6s present a much prettier picture, and an easier transition with less chance of problems.