Lionel AF minimum curve S-36?

Stewart,

S-36 means 36" radius.   The O gauge tradition of measuring a circle from the outside of tie-to-tie isn't used in S.

The smallest commercially available curved S gauge track is S-20, or 20" radius, which would be a 40" diameter circle.  The 2-8-8-2 will run fine on it, although the overhang is a little excessive:  (This is the former S Helper Service 20" radius track)

All of the Lionel/Flyer produced thus far will run on 20" radius.  Any "classic" Gilbert or Gilbert based Flyer, along with the Pacific's, Mikado's, Big Boy's, Challenger's and SD70's will run on it.  So your friend will have no trouble using American Models 24" and 27" radius curves.

Rusty

Page 3 of the Lionel AF catalog explains that all locos are designed to run on S-36, which the catalog goes on to explain is 36" diameter.   That is pretty tight, and is the accepted minimum for HO scale.   The smallest diameter of AF Fastrack that Lionel is selling is 20" radius or 40" diameter.  It seems surprising to me that Lionel would design these big locos for such a tight radius - tighter than the track they sell.   Tighter radius generally requires compromises.  I wonder what Lionel's rational is for the tighter radius minimum standard.

I'm willing to bet that's a cut-n-paste error, with data liberated from the O Gauge catalog for Fastrack, which is O36.  Particularly since Lionel's listing the S-Fastrack as R20 and R27...

It's not like Lionel's never had proofreading errors or conflicting information in their catalogs before.

Rusty