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Hi All,
Responding to Ira's request Ricky and I today tested several
locomotives on the modified section of track 1. Results follow. And
of course some of my conclusions and recommendations because I just
don't seem to be able to send a short email these days.
The following locomotives SUCCESSFULLY ran through the combined
072/054 curves without binding. Listed with each is overhang measured
from the outside of the ties at the worst point on the module. Add 1/4
inch to convert to overhang from the outside rail. Then do the math
with our track centers and the interference problem drops right out.
Lionel UP 4-8-8-4 Big Boy. 2 inch Boiler overhang.
Lionel UP 4-8-4 Northern. 1 1/4 inch Cab overhang
Lionel SP AC 12 Cab Forward. 1 3/4 inch Cab overhang
Lionel UP 4-6-6-4 Challenger. 1 3/4 inch Boiler overhang
While these locomotives ran freely and successfully -- it is a
tribute to modern three rail locomotive engineering that they do
so. The overhangs, twists on pilot and trailing trucks, cabs nearly
touching tenders, etc, result, (in my opion) in these larger
locomotives looking "goofy" on these narrow curves. For that matter
these larger locomotives look "goofy" (in my opinion) on our 072
curves, too.
The following locomotives did NOT run
successfully. They both slowed down while "binding up" on the 054 part
of the curves in the combination 054/072.
Sunset 3rd Rail UP 4-12-2. 1 inch overhang
Lionel UP 4-12-2. 1 inch overhang.
The fact that these two locomotives don't run through narrow
curves was expected. These 4-12-2 locomotive from both companies are
on Ebay all the time, both 2 rail and 3 rail versions, as they are the
acid test for a layout curves and lots of people give up on them. But
they look and run great on broad curves like my 090 and 099 curves.
We also tested 21 inch K-line cars with
couplers attached to the trucks and 21' inch Golden Gate Depot cars
with couplers attached to the bodies under the end sills. These cars
go thru the curves just fine. Actually coming out of the curves in a
counter clockwise direction there is an S curve with a 10 inch tangent
between the opposing curves. These cars are relatively close coupled
but they made it anyway. While they made it -- they also look goofy on
072 curves and less.
TRACK CENTERS: The Module C8 Corner Module
track centers between tracks 1 and 2 are 3 3/4 inches at the narrowest
point. This is much narrower than found on most layouts I've ever
seen. It's easy to see why this is the spot that caused me and Rick so
much grief during the last two New Braunfels show. His Cab Forward
clipped all ten of my 21 inch K-Line aluminum daylight passenger cars
resulting in knocking the number boards off of all 10 cars and damaging
the paint on one. At the previous show it also happened and I had to
shut the complete layout down to save my cars and Rick's engine from
further damage. Rick and I agree that the only way we can run scale
trains on tracks 1 and 2 at the same time is to pay close attention to
operating and therefore ignore the viewing public -- which I feel is
really bad PR.
Ditto on Corner Module C7 except the worst spot is 3 7/8 inches
between tracks 1 and 2 and also between tracks 2 and 3.
I understand that the Club Leadership is seriously considering
approving the construction and use of new broad curve 45 degree corner
modules with no curves less than K-Line Shadow Rail 096.. I really
hope we can team up and make this a reality. In addition to allowing
us to run the scale equipment, the traditional sized locomotives and
rolling stock look better on broader curves, too. The end result will
be an improved showing for the club at shows and more fun and less
damage for the members.
Thanks for taking the time to read this if you got this far.
Bill