min. curve radius

[UPTODAY]

Hi everyone,newbee to this forum,i am planning a thomas ho scale layout and i am curious about the min. radius curves i should use.
thanks,
UPTODAY

[jward]

i'd stay away from anything lass than 18r, especially if you ever intend on operating some of the larger engines like gordon or spencer, or if you intend on operating american style trains.

[SodorAdventures]

Exactly! 15 inch radius is too small. Your trains will have tons of problems. 18 inch radii is even kinda small. 18 inch, okay, 22+ very good.

[UPTODAY]

thanks everyone for your info!!!!i will use 22" on the outside loop and 18" or 20"on the inside loop.Layout will be 4'x8' with an L shaped ext.3'x10.5'.
PS;can't wait to see the new SOUND THOMAS!!!!!!!!!!!
cold & rainy,
Portland,Or.,
thanks,
UPTODAY

[Calebtrain]

For smaller engines, such as Thomas, Percy, Diesel, etc, 15" curves would work for a shunting area.

[SodorAdventures]

For smaller engines, such as Thomas, Percy, Diesel, etc, 15" curves would work for a shunting area.

  Eh, I would disagree, but you can come to your own decision. I personally would keep away...

[jward]

For smaller engines, such as Thomas, Percy, Diesel, etc, 15" curves would work for a shunting area.

most definitely not true.....15r works much better pulling a train than pushing one. here's why:

ever try to push a chain? notice how each link skews to one side or the other? the same happens when you try to back a train. pull the train and the forces pull in a straight line. push on that same train and the forces are trying to skew the cars off the rails. the tighter the radius of the curve, the more skewed the wheel flanges will be, and the more likely the cars are to derail. the thomas cars are pretty light to begin with, this only compounds the problem. have even a slightly misaligned rail joint and off they come.....

it is best to avoid the temptation of 15r curves altogether and stick with 18r or larger.

[Calebtrain]

Okay!