24" radius and layout size?

[Hathaway Browne]

So I found out that the GN Pullman car I have can only handle 24" radii, please forgive my ignorance when I ask what size board would I need to accommodate that?

I know its not going to happen on my 4X8 but I'm "negotiating trackage rights" so I'm trying to see what space I'd need.

Thanks in advance!

 

[hamltnblue]

Just multiply by 2, which in this case is 4 feet. You'll need a couple of extra inches to avoid runnign on the edge.

 

[GWT&P]

I would say 4' 6" absolute minimum because that 24"R is probably centerline.

 

[UP2CSX]

I'd go further and say 5' if you don't want the trains running right at the edge of the layout and you want some room for scenery. I have a 4' square section with 22" curves. The 4' square is large enough to accommodate the curve radius but the tracks come too close to the edge and I have no room for any scenery at the layout edges.

 

[Hathaway Browne]

Thanks for the replies!

So 5' eh? Hmm I think that's doable, I just need to get some extra length in the middle. 5x9 is at least achievable for me.

'Course I keep thinking, "just think what you could do with that in N"

 

[kherman]

Hathaway Browne,

I'll give you the engineers response. Take the 24" radius and tack on a 20% safety factor. That would be 29". Or a 58" diameter (4' 10"). So, the 5' diameter is a reasonable target.

From my understanding though, the larger the diameter you can do, the more realistic that things will look.

 

[Selector]

I'm going to throw cold water on the discussion by asking us to back up a bit. The minimum radius stated by Walthers is indeed 24", but I can't tell you how many posts I have seen on various forums from people who have fits trying to get those cars to track reliably on 24" radius curves. If I could find a way to talk you, and the missus, into 26", but much better would be 28", I would take a good solid crack at it. If you can get to 26", that would be a lot better than 24", and then all you have to do is add 3" of buffer or catching space on the outer edges of all such curves in case of accidents.