MTH Woodside Coaches on Smaller Curves

To answer your question, I really can't as I can't check for you, maybe someone else can. However, I have some points that may make sense. It's possible that something that says Minimum 0-42 may indeed run on 0-36, but not on 0-31. It depends on who makes it, and what type of track they offer. Example; Company "A" states that this will work on 0-72 but not on our next smaller track which is 0-54. That doesn't mean it won't run on 0-63 or 0-60. In this case, it probably will run on 0-63, but the company that made the item doesn't make 0-63 while others do. They only suggest considering their own line of track, not other vendors of track.

Another situation on curves is the coupler length and swing as tighter curves can cause problems if the coupler can't move too much or the coupler is too short on a tight curve causing the corner of the trailing car to hit the car in front.

I had a set of those cars - beautiful. They were totally 042 minimum. No way, no how where they going to go any tighter. I sold 'em simply because they sat more than anything and I thought I would use the money and shelf space for other purchases. I'd still like to get another set of them again.

I had a set of these. They are very nice cars. My layout is Atlas O-36 and the cars negotiated the curves. I think that is as tight as they can go. It would require some modification to get them down to O-31 IMO.

It's unfortunate that MTH chose 64' cars. Most passenger cars, especially out west, of the era were shorter. 60' was a long car back then. 

Jeff,

I'm not sure if this will help or not. I had the reverse situation. I have mostly O-42 curves but one area I needed O-36. I bought the Fastrack curves and the Fastrack adapter pieces. I butted them up against the MTH adapter track pieces. (See photo.)

You could buy the old Lionel tubular track if you have room for O-42.

Charlie

C'mon Jeff. Let's knock out a wall and expand that room for bigger track!