New to N scale

[Richard1945]

I am new to n scale trains.  I bought your Yard Boss train set which has a 0-6-0 engine and came track to make a 24".  Here are my questions:

1.  Is this track considered an 11.5" radius? 

2.  If not 11.5" radius, what is the radius?


I plan to add 15" of straight track at two of the arcs and another and two of 5" straight track at the other arcs. 

3.  Will your 2-6-6-2 stream mallet be able to negotiate this set up?

4.  If no to Q3 what radius do I need?

[kmcsjr]

Welcome to N!

You are correct in your radii calculation. I think Bachmann calls it 11" radius track. There is enough play in the track, that depending on where you measure and how you connect it, the measurement can vary a bit.


My 2-6-6-2 handles 11" radii, just fine.
That said. My only real rules with my trains is have fun
after that there are a few things that have proven to be true over and over and over.
one of them is choose the largest radius you can fit, in the space you are using. All locos and especially bigger locos will run better. I don't have a list of available track, but you can find it if you google bachmann n scale eztrack. Instead of adding straights, in the short direction, i'd add some wider radii track.
Post the dimensions of your proposed area and i will add more info this evening EST.

[ACY]

I have a Bachmann W&LE 2-6-6-2 that frequently derails on 11.25" radius, however it negotiates 15.5" radius flawlessly and has never derailed once. Perhaps go with 15.5" radius to play it safe.

[RGW]

I use a larger radius track going in and out to form a curve easement. This helps the engine negotiate the curves better.  

on my layout I have 19'  radius curves  but i use  one 28' track on each end of the curve going into and out. so if you need 6 tracks to make a 90 degree curve
I would use a 28,19,19,19,19,28 ' radius tracks . This example is on my layout yours will be different,but it may give you a idea,however  I do not know the degree spec on Bachmann track.
May be others could give you this info.

[brokemoto]

I have gotten the 2-6-6-2 around a nine and three quarter circle.  I tried it just to see what would happen.  It made it.  It did not like it, it looked pretty silly, but it did go.   It liked the eleven inch a little better., it looked a little less silly, but silly still.  It took the Kato UNITRAK thirteen and three quarter curves with no complaints, even an S curve made from the same thirteen and three quarter sections.   Still, the articulateds run and look better on curves sixteen inches, or better.

[kmcsjr]

I have gotten the 2-6-6-2 around a nine and three quarter circle.  I tried it just to see what would happen.  It made it.  It did not like it, it looked pretty silly, but it did go.   It liked the eleven inch a little better., it looked a little less silly, but silly still.  It took the Kato UNITRAK thirteen and three quarter curves with no complaints, even an S curve made from the same thirteen and three quarter sections.   Still, the articulateds run and look better on curves sixteen inches, or better.

Kato makes track?
I wasn't going to bring t up on the Bachmann forum. 
But now that it has been mentioned. They do also make very nice track.

That all said.  Richard, whichever track you choose, I'd set the 2-6-6-2 down on the track you have and give it a go. Buy wider radii after you see how this looks to you. As mentioned above, you can mix radii in a turn, so you could use a wider radius piece coming out of the straight and then smaller radius pieces to complete the turn. I run loops in a few narrow places around my house and that's what I do