New to Large scale.... Spectrum 4-4-0 question....

[emjayw]

I just purchased the Durango & Silverton Passenger Set.  I would like to buy the Spectrum 4-4-0 and wondered if it would run "okay" on the original "set" track or will I have to buy 4' radius curves to use it?  Thanks for your time.  Mike in TX

[Kevin Strong]

** Large scale modelers practice is to refer to curve track by diameter instead of radius. 

Actually, both are used pretty much equally, which only adds to the confusion. I've seen some literature from manufacturers which use both terms in the same sentence. (e.g., "we recommend our wide radius (8' diameter) curves...") No wonder people have lots of questions about that. Then you add multiple manufacturers defining their curves by "R#, but the numbers aren't the same from manufacturer to manufacturer.

But it wouldn't be large scale if there was consistency, right?

Later,

K

[R. J. Raleigh]

I run all my 4-4-0s and 2-6-0s on  minium 4' RAD. (8' DIA.) curves.
This is the smallest curve RAD./DIA. for best operation.
Especially when double-heading locomotives that are coupled with link and pin.