STD Gauge Tubular Track

The 400E was designed to run on 42" curves, however they look better running on larger curves.

My repro 400E's sometimes have issues on 42", but never an issue on my 57".

Steve

The wider, the better--especially if you're running larger locos like a 400e; good choice going with USA Track--great product. 

John

The guys are all right, while Lionel only made 42" curves for Standard Gauge pre war, everything runs better on larger curves. I've had exactly the same experience as Steve with repro 400Es.

Cheers, Mark

The wider the better!  Wider radius curves not only reduce derailments, but also wear and tear on all of your rolling stock.  In addition, you can run much longer trains on wider radius curves, which is always fun.  If possible, design your layout to run around the walls of the room instead of building an "island".  Try to keep all tracks within reach, which is about 3' for most of us.  If you want to use a track planning computer program, consider RRTracks.  The USA Track LLC track sections are listed in the "Lionel/Rydin" track library (which is curious, because neither Lionel or Rydin made the sections listed).  For further information please email me at standardgaugetrack@gmail.com.

Kirk Lindvig

USA Track LLC

Thank you all.  

If you want it to look original use 42 curves. I think the tie count is 5 per section. The straights are 14 and change inches with a low tie count. Switches would be 42 and come in black or green.

In the process of building a modular standard gauge/tinplate myself.  USA track is awesome.  He is very easy to work with in placing your order and shipment is very timely.  The standard gauge loop will be using 0-87, 72 & 54.  The 5 rail loop will be a simple oval using 0-72.  Hopefully, in the near future, the 5 rail loop will be something more than just an oval.  

F&G RY posted:

If you want it to look original use 42 curves. I think the tie count is 5 per section. The straights are 14 and change inches with a low tie count. Switches would be 42 and come in black or green.

That tie count comment interested me.  I have about 80 feet of standard guage track taht I use to run a large loop around our apartment for the Christmas season.  I've got a mix or four and five tie curves.  So I looked up the trakc in my catalog collection.  The 1930 catalog shows four ties on a curve and three on a straight section.  The 1936 catalog shows five on the curve and four on the straight.

Further on my Christmas railroad.  My 10E leading the three car passenger train doesn't like a long 42 inch curve.   IT can handle one sectio but on two or three, centrifugal force takes over.  The fix is the put a straight section between each pair of curved section.

My apartment floor plan is such that both bedroom and dining room open to the living room.  They each also have a door to a back hall.  So I can run a loop through four rooms - about 70 feet ltogether.

Our 57 diameter curves also have five ties per section, so look original in most installations.  The tie spacing is similar to the 36"-13 tie and 14"-6 tie straight sections.  Only the most observant will notice there are twelve sections rather than eight in the circle!

Kirk

USA Track LLC

I have a friend that tried to run his 400 on O42 curves and it kept derailing

072 curves are a good choice for 400E locos. USA Track is currently the best product, but the EARLY MTH track with the blued ties was sturdy and well made, NOT so with the later black painted ties.

A 408E will run well on 042 curves due to its two articulated motor trucks.

IF you have the space enough, always go with the WIDER radius track!

Tinplate Art is absolutely correct.  The early MTH track was made by EBR Products in New Jersey (on the same equipment used by USA Track LLC today).  The catalog numbers all had a 10- prefix, and the ties are stamped "MTH".  This is good quality track if you can find it.  The current production MTH track, made in China, is flimsy, and has poor quality insulators.  It can be identified by 11- prefix catalog numbers, and the "Lionel Corp." stamping on the ties.

Standard tie counts on modern era standard gauge track are as follows-

STD42-5 ties, eight to a circle

STD57-5 ties, twelve to a circle

STD72-6 ties, sixteen to a circle

STD84-7 ties, sixteen to a circle

STD87-7 ties, sixteen to a circle

14' straight sections- 4 or 6 ties

36' straight sections- 7 or 13 ties

We have made multiple custom sections with other tie spacing as requested, and also offer what we call "Super Standard", which essentially doubles the number of ties, for "tinplate style realism". 

:-)

Kirk