SWITCHES WITH DIFFERENT RADIUS ASSIGNMENTS

I would think it only matters if you’re coming out of the switch with a curve going in the opposite direction. People often use larger curves as easements going into tighter curves, like O60 going into an O48 loop. I’m curious though when you say “many”. O48 suggests FasTrack and I believe they only sell 36, 48, 60 and 72 switches. Are you considering using another brand with numbered switches, like Ross?

Profuse,

Do you have a track plan or drawing that you can provide to illustrate what you are trying to accomplish? This will help us give you better advice.

It's all Fastrack. My plan is still developing, but sometimes I stock up based on finding good prices.  My engines are all high rail Premier, but I sometimes worry about 048 curves and pulling a long compliment of cars.  When I was a kid back in the 70s, it was fun seeing how fast you could go before making the American Flyer steam engine inertia off the track.  That engine still runs, but it will only be a display now.  I no longer want my expensive engines to go off rail.  If I ever stop changing and finish my plans, I'm happy to know this group would be willing to analyses it!

Many MTH Premier locomotives are specified for O-54 minimum. Some of these may function on O-48. I'd suggest O-60 minimum for your switches. Locomotives are more sensitive to switch curves than track curves.

Agree wholeheartedly; if your plan uses O48 minimum curves, your minimum switch should be O48 for compatibility purposes.  Now don't take this too literally because you could, of course, use O36 switches with O48 minimum curves every where else, but don't be surprised then if some of your equipment has trouble traversing those switches.

It is equipment run that sets the minimum curvature you need to use for track and switches, but you are always free to use wider or narrower curves.  Wider always looks better in operation, while narrower might cause operating problems.

Chcuk