minimum track radius

[Michael DaviesParticipant]

can anyone please advise on the minimum practicable radius for track building. I need to navigate a right angle to access a fiddle yard

[Andrew UllyottParticipant]

As with so many questions in life; it depends.
4ft is often quoted as the desirable minimum but you should be able to get down to 2ft 6in in EM without too much bother.
It depends what you’re running, how fast you’re running it and how much side play is built into the axles.
8 or 10 coupled locos are going to be a an issue but 0-4-0’s will go down to less than that.

[Michael DaviesParticipant]

thanks for that. I can do a 24″ radius, so slow running into the fiddle yard should be not cause problems.

[Nick RidgwayParticipant]

@Michael Davies said:
can anyone please advise on the minimum practicable radius for track building. I need to navigate a right angle to access a fiddle yard  

I’ve built a bit of track in 12in:1ft scale over the years. The over-riding factor is the passage of long fixed wheelbases. A BR class 4 2-6-4T comes in at 4&1/2 chains, dead slow, with check rail spaced at 2&1/4in flange gap and +3/4in of gauge widening round the curve.

In EM gauge, with appropriate chassis design I’ve managed to get an N7 class 0-6-2T with no pony truck and sideplay on all axles round 14in radius, if that helps?

It is possible to go below 12in radius with 4w wagons and a Stephen Lewin 0-4-0ST. Second-hand T-shirt now available on Freecycle…

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