will the mth real trax 72 inch curve fit on a 6 ft wide table with any safety space left over?
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No.
The O-72 72" diameter is measured to the center rail. You have another two inches for the track outer rail and roadbed. As a practical matter, you need to add at least 6" to the track diameter for your table width on a basic oval.
This isn't just RealTrax either, Most O guage track is measured center rail to center rail.
Originally Posted by old ironside:
will the mth real trax 72 inch curve fit on a 6 ft wide table with any safety space left over?
when i saw this ,i first thought it was a "dumb blondes" joke. but its a serious question.-jim
I was afraid it would not work but wanted to ask before I wasted the money. I will stick with 54 radius that I have on hand.
Originally Posted by Russell:
This isn't just RealTrax either, Most O guage track is measured center rail to center rail.
I think that applies to all the newer types of track. The old conventional O27 and O31 track curves would actually fit within a 27" or 31" width. But the old conventional O72 was measured center rail to center rail.
If you have space it's a good idea to have some extra inches on the outside of a curve so that a derailed train is less likely to fall off the table. If a curved track is against a wall you will need to add clearance for overhang of long cars and locos.
Originally Posted by old ironside:
I was afraid it would not work but wanted to ask before I wasted the money. I will stick with 54 radius that I have on hand.
I think you mean 54" diameter. You could have O72 easements leading into O54 curves; this adds very little additional width and improves appearances of trains going in to the curves. I do that on my own layout.
Illustration drawn with FasTrack.
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How about this then. On my 6 ft wide tables I have an inner loop and outer loop. I put a 72 inch curve leading into the curve of 54" on the outer loop and a 10 inch on the top end and on the inner loop run 54" with a 72 lead in but a shorter straight piece on the end. My goal is to switch the former layout that had 42" inner loop and 54" outer loop to both being 54" so I can run bigger engines in or out.
You are not gaining much on engines with O-54. I would add a little to the table, at least where the curves are and go with O-72.
old ironside, I saw that you had a discussion about setting up a new layout:
If you have the space in your new basement you could arrange your tables differently to accommodate wider curves:
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I prefer the lower option so I have a nice long straight away. I think I have enough room to do it but just worried it will make the scenery et al harder to look realistic. my plan is to put fiberboard on top and scene it and add the track and that way it can be moved though I hope to never move again.
