24" and 26" radius track

[sinebar]

A layout I'm looking at has 24" and 26" radius curves. Is curved track available with these radii? I know that Atlas has 22" but I think that's as large as they produce.

 

[NickB]

You could always get flex track and bend it to that radius.

 

[sinebar]

You could always get flex track and bend it to that radius.

That certainly is an option and I'll resort to it if I have to but to be honest I really don't like flex track. It won't stay bent to the shape you want unless you nail it which I don't want to do until I'm sure about my layout.

 

[pcarrell]

That all depends on the brand of flex track. I know that Micro Engineering flextrack stays bent.

 

[sinebar]

That all depends on the brand of flex track. I know that Micro Engineering flextrack stays bent.

I'll have a look at it. Thanks!

 

[JimmyG]

Of course, the nice part about flex track is that you can put in easements. That makes for smoother running.

 

[sinebar]

Of course, the nice part about flex track is that you can put in easements. That makes for smoother running.

What are easements?

 

[CP9302]

What are easements?

An easement is the section of track at the start and end of the curve. By making this section a larger radius then the rest of the curve, you ease the train into the curve. Curves with easements are more reliable to operate because the transition from straight to curved track is more gradual.

 

[sinebar]

An easement is the section of track at the start and end of the curve. By making this section a larger radius then the rest of the curve, you ease the train into the curve. Curves with easements are more reliable to operate because the transition from straight to curved track is more gradual.

That makes sense. My Big Boy could make good use of this method.

 

[NickB]

Yea my cabfoward does real well with this method.

 

[JimmyG]

There are curve easements (left to right) and there are vertical easements (slowly changing angle up or down) as well. This is what the real track designers put in.