How many operators run on 0-31 or 0-36 curves?

hello c.sam........

I do operate on 0-36 fastrack quite a bit using the classic F-3's and Williams geep.

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003,200

Tiffany

My two elevated lines are 0-36 FasTrack.

- Mike

My small bedroom layout is all 0-36. Previous around the wall layout was 0-31 and 0-42

In an industrial area on the right I use O36 switches and curves

Peter

Hi csam • I run K-Line Tubular Shadow Rail Track. On all elevated lines and main lines.

0-31 & 0-42

031 and 027 here. No other choice if I want some reasonable trackage. Most English houses are very small!!

MIKE

Since my foot print is 4'x20' and I run Fastrack I was frustrated that 48" doesn't fit on the the 4'.. but I have set up an easement of 1/2 36; 48; 1/2 36; 48; 1/2 36; 48 ;1/2 36 which fits nicely. I have been inspired by Larry3railtrains layout and will be posting more over on the layout forum. Here is what I have so far..

The upper loop on my layout is all 36" curves except for two pieces of 48" that I had to use to make it fit.  I run locos up there - originally only BEEPS but now smaller Premier like this 2-8-0: I like the look and I like the fact that it has cruise so it does not speed up and slow down as it climbs/descends from one level of the over and under loop to another.  Lionchief Plus locos work well on it, too. 

As to the small pilot wheels on many scale locos, I'm not sure.  Not that I look at it, you may have a point.  I'm not concerned about it, and I have tried to both wonder why they do it, if they do (looks like maybe they do . . .) and if I like it.  I concluded:

- they probably do it because they need the space: even an extra 1/8 inch up front could be previous when you ahve to fit the pilot truck mechanism under a smoke unit, etc., and then . . . 

- it may make the locos look better.  Big pilot wheels would make the drivers look less overwhelmingly the thing about the loco.  Maybe people like that.  I have to think about this. 

Any small room layout with any amount of track on it will have to use the tight radius curves. While mine is 9 x 7 feet it has so much track on it that it needs RealTrax O-31 track in places.

I suspect the pilot and trailing engine wheels are small to allow the engines wheel clearance. I have had to modified some MTH rolling stock rated for O-31 for undercarriage clearances. O-31 curves are not very good looking but these are TOY TRAINS not SCALE TRAINS. Liberties have to be taken to allow the tight radius curves required so a decent layout can be made on a 4 x 8 feet sheet of plywood which is probably the most common O gauge layout.

LDBennett

I'm limited to a 6x9 layout. I use Fastrack- my two main lines use larger radius curves (0-60 for the outer and 0-48 for the inner) but I do have 0-36 on my elevated line (small loop in my mountain scene). I use some 0-36 switches and some curves in my yard/industrial area. I even have an 0-31 curve in my yard. No choice because of space. My TMCC 4-6-6-4 Challenger never ventures into that part of the yard (even though supposedly it could). 

I also use 0-36 on my layout.

I do run a lot O-31 curves, but only for smaller stuff, and one post war Lionel 6-8-6 681.

I have a dedicated layout for the Polar Express in O-36. On my main layout I have an O-36 loop (36" X 9') that I run the "Peanuts" 0-8-0 with 3 "Peanuts" Passenger cars. As you all know, the Polar Express comes with the O-36 track and Atlas track (which is all I have on the main layout) offers both O-27 & O-36. I chose O-36 because it was the largest diameter I had room for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwW2VwAPsVI

loop one and three are O31 with a straight piece of track

between each curve.Track 2 and 4 are O42 curves.

I am redoing the board and am going

to run two loops of O54 and two loops of O72.

My smallest curves are 0-36. That is my current minimum.

Most of my trackage is 031, to take advantage of the many 022 switches I have.  But I do have two blocks of 072, with a reverse loop.

While my "main" layout is 9' X 14' and uses 0-72 as a minimum, I'm also contemplating building a "storable' layout with 0-36 Super"O" to run my remaining conventional MPC/LTI items on per attached picture.

I run Gargraves sectional with O42 and O32 curves. To C.Sam's point, I wouldn't even try to run scale steamers the size of a Mohawk. I don't run freight cars more than 40-ish feet long or six-axle diesels, either, though I may break that rule for a lightning stripe NYC PA.  

I run 031 & 042 tubular track, 031 is the post war O gauge track and and the 042 is Gargaves in most places, on the lower level. I have some K-Line 042 curves and some Lionel 042 half curves.

The upper level is 027 straights and Gargraves 032 curves and Gargraves switches.

Lee Fritz

o36 fastrack is as big as it gets for me currently.  I run scale diesels and steamers as long as long as they are rated to make my turn.  I know the overhang looks bad, but I don't care.  It is the easiest way for me to enjoy some of the slightly larger engines.

I sure do. I have lots of post war stuff as well as traditionally sized (semi scale) pieces that look just fine on 031. Now I'm even beginning to restore some prewar items.

That said I also run on 042, 054 and even 063. So there is a place for 031.

Old School -

O-31 Tubular track + O-22 switches.  One mainline curve at corner of my layout is O-42

 Most of my equipment is Post War.  I have one modern Lionel 0-8-0.  Everything runs well  - except my 2500 Series aluminum passenger cars do not like the reverse curve located at the upper right reverse loop shown here on my track plan.   But they sure look nice behind my Santa Fe A-B-A F Units on my display shelf above the layout.

Steve

My carpet central layout was all-036, but I upgraded it to 048 curves when I bought my Lionel Reading T1.  It takes up very little extra space, and the T1 runs just fine on it.

So far we have a 100% response of tight turn operators. I was asking for some opinions as to what percentage of each we have here.

With more and more layout builders seemingly trying for more sweeping curves and the like, I would hope that Lionel will equip their premium locomotives with proper sized pilot wheels and offer a smaller set for those who ask for them!

c.sam:  aren't there some larger locos that come with both sets of pilot trucks?

I use 036 Fastrack on my carpet central curves and I am very happy with this track in general. I am able to run everything I want including a K-Line Big Boy and a MTH LIRR MP-54.

Question, are all your switches O36 too?  And what are the dimensions of your main table?

My current Christmas layout has Fastrack 036 curves on the inner reversing loops.

The outside curves are 048.

Layout is attached.

What is the overall size of your layout?  It looks pretty cool.

I've NEVER had a layout where I've gone over 0-42 curves. Usually 0-31 and 0-42 but I've grown to like 0-27 - most Railking and Lionel semi-scale engines and cars run fine around 0-27 and Ross switches work great with 0-27. 

Here is my current layout, a modest 4x8. 0-42 on the outside, 0-27 on the inside. Ross 0-31 switches. :

My previous layout. It started life as a 4x8 and when I tore it down (something I regret doing a bit), measured at 8x8. 0-27 on the top loop and some sidings, bottom was a mix of 0-42 and 0-31. 

Thanks for the info.  By the way, I have a Dickens Chapel (picture attached).  If you would be interested in it, I would be glad to ship it to you for the shipping cost only.  

Bob Severin

Bob:

No thanks on the Chapel...I am out of room for adding any additional buildings.  It took forever to light up the 60 that I already have on the layout.

Howard

Larry,

That looks just about what I have now on my new Mianne bench work that I have finally got around to getting and doing something with. I have a couple passing sidings on the far side and Spurs on the closest side. I don't have the extra passing siding you have n the near side. Now I want to add some reversing loops, probably will make a figure 8 in the middle, but that messes up my spurs. I guess nothing's prefect?

Right now I have a 6' x 16' table with plans to expand it by at least that much again when budget permits (CFO wants some new furniture and MTH has fleeced me badly with the last few catalogs).

I currently have 2 loops using Atlas track (similar to Larry3railtrains' above, only with 2 loops and a bit larger). Outer is O-63 and inner is O-54. Switches are all Atlas and I currently have both O-72 and O-54. I am leaning toward going with all O-54 switches and selling my O-72's. I have been able to maintain more consistent track centers with the O-54's.

I have no steamers and none are planned in the future, all modern diesels. The O-54 switches would be all I would ever need, as most modern diesels are O-54 and less. No Centipedes or anything like that are planned either. I currently have some MTH RailKing, but am now leaning mostly toward MTH Premier and Lionel Scale for future purchases. I have been amazed at how much space this eats up and just how very quickly it dis-appears. However, I wouldn't have any other scale, O is it for me.

I have about 446 sq foot of actual layout in a 550 sq foot area in my basement. There is about 750 foot of track between 3 main lines, a 8 rail yard, turntable, train shed, 5 round Helix and several sidings, all O36 curves and switches (Atlas track). I run mostly MTH Imperial steam and whatever Premier engines that work on O36.

Dan

SINCLAIR   -  The main table is 4 ft x 10 ft and the far side extension is 2 ft x 3 ft.

ALL switches are 0-36 and all curves the same.

On my 6'x16' layout, track is all tubular, 2 loops with 054 curve, and when I add the upper loop, that will be 042.

Mike P

I have one main line that runs 0-31 in the city portion of our layout.

4x8' bedroom layout so I run only 036 Fastrak. Works OK in the space I have.