loco curves

[indian_hills_r_r]

have looked just about everywhere on Bachmann trains website to find if they have something that states the min. curve each engine will make.
maybe the bach man will know.
thanks for any help

[the Bach-man]

Dear IHRR,
Which loco are you talking about?
Thanks!
the Bach-man

[bbmiroku]

Generally, the bachmann engines will take a minimum of 18" radius.

As a general rule for most brands:
2-axle streetcars, minimum 12" radius
multi-truck electrics, minimum 18" radius

2-axle diesels, minimum 12" radius
4-axle diesels, minimum 15" radius
6-axle diesels, minimum 18" radius

'historic' steam engines (Lafayette, DeWitt Clinton, Best Friend of Charleston, etc.), minimum whatever the flextrack will allow
0-4-0, 2-4-0, 0-4-2, 2-4-2, minimum 12" radius
4-4-0, 0/2/4 - 6 - 0/2/4, minimum 15" radius
0/2/4 - 8 - 0/2/4, minimum 18" radius
0/2/4 - 10 - 0/2/4, minimum 22" radius; unless the middle wheels are flange-less, then 18" radius
articulateds, minimum 18" radius, looks better on minimum 30" radius

Of course, the larger the radius, the better the train will look; so try to keep your yard minimum at 15" radius, your siding minimum at 18" radius, and your mainline minimum at 22" radius, space permitting.

[Trainman203]

A prevalent mindset often wants to run the biggest  big mama-jama on the sharpest  track radius possible .

It took me a long time to get into a mindset that, in the model railroad world, less is always more.  Less sharp curves and smaller equipment = more realism and better operation.  My biggest steam  engine is a 4-8-2 that , while it will operate on 26" radius curves, just doesn't look right.  I will sometimes run a lesser offending 2-8-2 but in reality, a 2-8-0 is the biggest steam engine that doesn't do funky overhangs on 26" radius curves.  Those big engines are orphans from the glory days of a huge club layout that likely will never return.

[indian_hills_r_r]

my layout's largest curve is 36" everything else will probably be 30" . the trolley will be as small I  need to get though the town curves since it is the old Bachmann single axle. my largest engine is a sd 40-2  , one is a 4-6-2, other is to be a 4-6-0 , a 4-8-0 , 4-8-2 . I also have a 2 and 3 trk hiesler , 0-6-0 goat, 0-4-0 , and s2 , 70 tonner, 45 ton, 44 ton. hope these help

[Trainman203]

30" R ought to handle just about anything well except maybe a large Mallet like an EM1.

[indian_hills_r_r]

thank you all for your help.

[bbmiroku]

Trainman, I was just jotting down the minimum radius the engines are designed to work on, not what they should work on.

[Joe323]

If I remember right the Bachmann Catalogue does give minimum radius curves for each locomotive.  Since in a given scale a locomotive is a locomotive it should work on the other brands of the same locomotive.

[Trainman203]

Ok understood. 

Sidebar:  I can get into a "large" T shirt.  But there is a lot of "overhang" 😮🤭😱😂😂😂.  An XXL looks SO MUCH BETTER!😀

[Len]

have looked just about everywhere on Bachmann trains website to find if they have something that states the min. curve each engine will make.
maybe the bach man will know.
thanks for any help

The "minimum curve" information is in the detailed information for a specific locomotive. Such as here, where the last line of the description says, "Performs best on 18" radius curves or greater."...
https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=258_276_1055&products_id=6483&zenid=be3ehk8hmqh6fdpej0qectnv97

The general page on the locomotive, like this one on the 4-6-2:
https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=258_276_1055&zenid=be3ehk8hmqh6fdpej0qectnv97
doesn't tell you. You have to pick one of the specific locos to get the information.

Keep in mind that, "Performs best...", statement just means the loco will run on that size curve. Not that it will look right on it. Larger is always better, especially with steam locos.

Len
Len

[Terry Toenges]

I found this from Bachmann Forum 2010:
Pacific Northern:
Quote from: ABC on September 26, 2010, 01:31:18 PM

Here is a list of everything
Thomas, Toby, Mavis, Salty, Bill, Ben & Percy 15"
James, Gordon, Emily, Spencer, Donald, Douglas, Edward & Henry 18"
4-2-0 Pegasus 18"
0-4-0 Dewitt Clinton 15"
4-8-4 22"
2-8-4 22"
4-8-2 22"
2-10-4 22"
2-10-2 22"
2-8-0 18"
2-6-2, 2-6-0, 0-6-0 & 0-6-0T 18"
4-4-0 (both) 18"
DDA40X 22"
GP50, GP40, GP38-2, GP35, GP30, GP7 18"
SD40-2, E33 22"
RF-16 Shark, B23/30-7, U boat, H15/16-44, Ft-A/B, GE70 ton, E60CP 18"
GE 44 ton, MDT plymouth, 15"
PCC, Brill trolley, cable car, gandy dancer, high railer (MOWs) 15" radius

[Terry Toenges]

Title: Re: Min Radii of Bachmann HO locomotive (Steam and diesel)
Post by: ABC on September 26, 2010, 06:20:22 PM
Note Bachmann says it "performs best" on these radius curves and it is not the absolute minimum.
Climax 22"
Shay 18"
2-10-0 22"
SD-45 22"
8-40C(W) 22"

[Terry Toenges]

Title: Re: Min Radii of Bachmann HO locomotive (Steam and diesel)
Post by: bobwrgt on September 26, 2010, 09:48:32 PM
A lot of engines listed for 22in radius will work just fine on 18in.  YOU MUST HAVE GOOD TRACK WORK THAT IS LEVEL AND SMOOTH. I run the following on 18in all the time at all speeds.
8-40CW
8-40c
SD45,s
Heavy and light mountains  4-8-4
2-10-0 's
2-10-2 Santa Fe

On the 6 axel diesel you may need a long shank coupler to keep from pulling the first freight car off on the curves. You can also just make sure the first car has a long shank coupler.

Bob

[Trainman203]

I'm wondering.  Why doesn't someone take photos looking at the front of a 2-10-2 on each of these curves - 15", 18", 22", 24", and 28" - so we can see once and for all that the center of the pilot overhanging the outside rail is akin to a tutu-wearing bear riding a bicycle in the circus.

Yes. The engine will get around all those curves.  It will do it.  And look like a toy in the process instead of a realistic model. 

It all depends on how important realism is to you.  It's important to me so I don't squeeze them around minimal radius curves.  If it doesn't  matter to you, have at it.