I wonder if anyone on this forum has built the 2010 MRR N scale Salt Lake Route, and specifically if any running problems have been found.
I’m keen to start building according to the track plan on page 37 of the March 2010 edition, but am concerned that the inner mainline has a single (very short - 15 degree) piece of 9 3/4" radius curve (Kato part 20-101), immediately before / after the points end of a turnout, (dependent on direction of running), and that a passing siding off the main has one 45 degree piece of 11" radius curve (20-110). There are a few other instances where 9 3/4" and 11" curves are used but these lead from the engine shed or to an industry etc. so not as much of an issue as mainline running.
Having read dozens of pages on various forums, the general advice is not to go below around 12" especially if running six axle power, passenger cars or 89’ autoracks, all of which are what I’d like and all appear in the photos and videos that accompanied the layout build. Kato say their stock is good for 9 3/4" but I don’t want to be limited to their range.
I just got the track installed on my version of the SLR (re-located to Oregon). I have read posts about this on another forum that say the radii are acceptable, even with passenger equipment. The super-elevated curves look great, by the way. I’m excited to have it running, though I have a long way to go. Best of luck, Glenn Wolfe
IIRC, that piece of 9 3/4" radius curve is on the top left side (inner curve), but than widens to a regular 11" radius. That should not be a problems for 6-axle locos, but it might set limitations running locos like Bachmann´s 2-10-2 on it.
Howdy, I’ve now got trains running on my SLR. From Alco PA and B units, 80’ passenger cars, and box cars (most are 40s), things look great. I want to write to Dick Christianson and thank him for the R&D he did to get this layout to work. So far he’s been right on. Glenn