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

My 8'x16' layout, which was featured in OGR Magazine Run #247 in January 2011, uses MTH RealTrax of 031 and one loop of 042 radius track. I also use one loop of Lionel 027 Tubular Track around a small Dept. 56 Village. In all I can run 6 trains at one time.

 

Steve Tapper

 

Yes Bob, some of the larger ones do but the smaller ones are usually the mounted ones while the scale pilots if not included,  are often 'special order'. My contention is that scale locomotives should ship with scale pilots and the smaller ones ordered if needed.

 

This is why I am curious if the majority of buyers of these scale pieces would prefer them to come with scale wheels mounted instead of optional.

My inner main line is O-31, outer main is O-42. I recently bought my first large engine designed to run on O-72 curves (Milwaukee Road S-3 4-8-4) so I'll have to run him on our club layout or re-do the curves on my outer main (not likely, LOL). The undersize pilot wheels don't bother me much. Considering that O-72 is still a pretty tight curve by O scale standards, using scale-diameter pilot wheels might cause some derailing problems. If you're running classic O-80 and up curves then yeah, I can see where scale wheels would be preferable. 

I have a Super "O" D-223 display layout/peninsula with the 0-36 curves. Otherwise, I have an around-the-room, shelf layout, 48 inches up, with 0-72 curves.

Look at your thread heading.  That is why you are getting 100% tight turn response.

I disagree with your contention, respectfully, because it is not in line with business realities. 

 

Lionel has always offered high end locomotives, as you know.  As compared to other firms such as 3rd Rail, Lionel's offerings, even in this high-end segment, have been for operators.  Hence the emphasis on prototypical operation -- sounds, smoke, slow speed running, etc.  But the reality is that O gauge is simply too large for most people to have a layout that features, for example, O72 minimums and other large diameter turns that would be consistent with scale pilot wheels.  And the business considerations -- selling to the widest possible market in what is already a small, niche market of O gauge trains and high end locos within O gauge trains -- probably dictate that scale wheels aren't what the majority want.  Thus, making people start to swap out wheels on $1k plus locomotives isn't likely going to please the majority of customers who buy the locos, and in business your premium customers are your lifeblood.  My guess is that this is why scale wheel are not more widely offered -- it is a niche within a niche within a niche.   

I think it depends how you count the 100% when you say all the responses were. . .

 

Even fewer layouts have only O-72" and bigger curves.  I think is this regard I may be typical of most owners with "big" curves, mine has 72 and larger on one loop.  But about a third of the layout is O-36, and finding good locos to run on that portion is very important to me.   

 

Still, I buy a lot of I-need-72-curve-locos (4-12-2, Big Boy, etc.) but I seldom run them: the fact that they will get around my layout on the track doesn't mean they look good or are fun to set up or run.  I much prefer "I-can-do-O-54-if-you-insist" locos: I run two or three of them all the time - along with one O-36 loco of some sort, too.

I have to inner loops that are 031.  I run my smaller engines and semi scale cars on those loops. 

I'd love to see the track plan of your layout.

 

I'd also love to see a layout plan of yours since you can run 6 trains at once.  What's the longest train you can run?

I'm LUCKY In guess. I run only 072 & 054.

 

FREDSTRAINS

Actually no one we know of. Have a friend who used MTH 072, 054, and 042 curves and ran into issues with large equipment on the two 042 locations.

working late tonight but will make a pdf from my cad drawing and post when I can. I have gotten 6 trains running ONCE on mine but one track has a 90 deg crossing and I spend so much time watching out for a crash I limit to 3 to 4 at a time now.

Dan

I use 031 curves and my largest curve is 042. my layout is 13'7" x 4' 6" across the front window and 9" 9" x 4'6" down the mirrow side on the left.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...PDY413qKOGOMEdprbIdA

Let me add another question here if I may - Considering that everyone who responded runs the tighter track - How many of you buy and operate the larger scale locomotives?

 

When Lionel introduced the 'scale' 773 Hudson back in  1950  it was supposed to run on 031 track. The 1990 reissue of the 700E came with very small wheels to operate on 042 or could it handle 031 as well?

Hi...this is my first post. I previously modeled in HO, Sn3 and started life with an American Flyer Hudson. I am looking for simple with good operations and the ability to do a reverse loop without an act of congress. I am going O27, small post war steamers and Alco FAs. Neat part is I have a bunch of structure kits in S scale that will work, because of the compact size of O27 equipment.

 

I'm done spiking rail and trying to install sound in brass locos. O27 feels just right to me.

 

Not sure about the 700E from 1990, but the Santa Fe warhorse version of the 773 will run on O-31. My layout uses Atlas O-36 curves, and I run the warhorse from time to time. My curves are hidden (!), so it's not all that bad looking.

 

That would be the largest engine I'd attempt to run. The railroad I model had smaller engines and tight curves. I don't think the majority of the bigger steam engines are even rated for O-36. The one you picture at the beginning of your post isn't rated for O-36 as far as I know. Might need the smaller drivers for a larger diameter track?

I prefer O31 curves, as I am most interest in semi-scale and postwar/postwar reproduction trains.  If it can't negotiate O31, I'm really not interested in it.  The only exception is my Shakespeare Express, which I have a loop of 42-inch O27 track for.  I also still have the O36 Fastrack from my starter set, but I rarely use that track anymore.

Believe it or not, I actually like watching the way equipment swings through the tighter curves.  Watching the pilots swing out from under my GP38 (which is scale), in my opinion, gives the engine a little more action.  Because of how tight the O31 is, I personally think it would look best in an urban or industrial environment.

Aaron

C.Sam:  I run O31, O42, and O54, but I only run trains on the diameter curves that they are rated for (never smaller curves)  I may, occasionally run smaller-rated trains on larger diameter curves.

 

036 and 048 Fastrack for me.

I have the K-Line Big Boy and Allegheny and MTH Railking Cab Forward, and I run them both on O36 regularly.  They are rated at O31, and I have run the Big Boy on O27 just fine.  Yes, they aren't scale, but they are big locomotives.

 

I was also given a MTH Premier DL-109 that is rated for O42 and I run it on O36 without any issues.  I did try it on O27 once, but it just climbed out.  I also have scale MTH GP38-2s that I run on O36 all the time.  I do have the Lionel VL Big Boy on order, and have a loop of O72 FasTrack to put on the floor to run it when I get it, but I will be testing it to see how tight a curve it really can take.

The only thing I can say about large articulated locomotives on curves under 72" radius is that to me they look rather awkward. A friend of mine had to relocated a bunch of trackside telephone poles because the overhang of the boiler caused the smoke box to clip them on the curves.

c.sam,

 

I am one who uses 95% O36 and 5%O48 on my Fastrack layout.

 

I do buy the larger locomotives so I appreciate the wheel sets that allow for running on the tighter radii.

 

I run my dad's 1950 773 as well as my Century Club 773 with ease.  Sure, it doesn't always have the flowing look as it would if I were running on my old O72 minimum layout, but I have no issues.

OK, finally home. Here are to PDF's, one is the upper track level and one of the lower track level. They are connected by a Helix, Everthing is O36. I thought about using larger radii curves but found a LOT of engines that would run on O36 and I like to really pack in the track so that is why I did whet I did. I have a MTH Imperial BB that runs good and the MTH deminstrator EVO that runs great but they look a little big at certain angles compared to my other engines. All in all I have a lot of work laft to do (scenics and lights) but I am pretty happy how things are turning out.

Dan

My understanding is that the limiting factor on the 700E is the tender, not the locomotive.  A 773, and its repro progeny, have a slightly smaller tender that can accommodate tighter turns. 

 

All that being said, I run all my Hudsons on O42 simply because it is my experience that they run better.  But they 773 can handle O31.

Thanks.  That looks like a nice layout.  What is the grade on the Helix, and the over all dimensions of the layout?  Is it a walk around, or against the walls?  What is the level separation?  I'm trying to design a larger layout and want to pack the most into it.  Right now I have two small ones that will slide under a couch and a twin bed.

I live in New York City and I run O31 and O27. Mind You that is a shelf layout around the walls of my layout "room" if you can believe it. On my other layout I run O16.

Sinclair,

 

I built my layout in three sections over the years. The first section, a 4'by8' used one loop of 031 MTH Realtrax with two MTH Switches for an inside loop. Today I just use that inside loop for a siding.

 

The second section of the layout features an elevated loop crossing over another loop of 031 curves underneath. These two sections allow mw to run three trains at one time.

 

The final section of my layout includes a circle of Lionel 027 tubular track that surrounds a Dept. 56 Village. Along side this section I have two more loops, one 031 and 042 where I have trains coming at each other from opposite directions giving me six loops in all. There was a diagram of the track layout that went along with the article that was featured in OGR.

 

Steve Tapper

Me , my layout is 17 feet by 21 feet with all o-36 because that way the layout has a big space for a town and ext. But the big main goes all around the layout and the shot main half way. Then there is a yard off the main and it is 17feet long by 3 feet wide, all (4) o-36 and one o-48 switcn. But all the bends have a o-36 radis.

 I put some dimensions in the attched PDF's and here is a side shot of the Helix.

Layout limit of O54 on the outer loop, with an O45 inner loop but there are a couple of O36 switches. 

Pictured O36 switches for small sidings.

 

I am O 36.I  tried running one of the Lionel starter set engines on old O-27 track ending in a derailment party. Grew up with O-27. In HO I still have all 15 inch since I like the "spaghetti bowl" like layouts.