What is the proper Minimum Curve for SD70ACe?

I have had them running on O48 with no problems on my Christmas layout but they do look much better on wider curves. My layout was O72 and that they look ok.

I think it is 0-36 but it would look beater with 0-54.

Lionel's pilots on the ACe's are [normally] more forgiving of sharp curves. I believe they were originally rated for O-36 (MTH's units were rated for O-42). That said, they'll look a lot better on O-54, but the bottom line is that the wider the curve, the better they'll look. If I ever get the space, I'll look at 72" radius (O-144) as a minimum.

I have owned 3 legacy sd70aces. The up8444 flag unit and both versions of the western pacific heritage unit. my widest turn is O36 and they all make it just fine through switches and all forward and back. I use fasTrack

I have the Lionel MKT/UP Heritage SD70ACe and run it perfectly on Lionel O36 Fastrack.

Mark

Hey Gentlemen: After further study and taking the information you provided, I researched the Wabash SD70ACe and I discovered the overall length of the diesel was 19" long as opposed to 17 - 17.5" on the other SD70's. Does that extra 2" impact that greatly so that it won't be able to negotiate an O-36 curve.  My proposed layout will cover O-36 to O-72 curves and I wouldn't want it derailing when it encounters any curves less than the O-54 curves recommended.  Is it worth purchasing or will it be able to handle my layout without making adjustments to the layout ?

If they recommend O54, the O36 will be tight, if it works at all.

I'm not sure what's going here with these measurements. You are correct as to the catalog showing differing lengths for the same engines.

The Wabash shows 19" and the Katy shows "Approx. 17 1/2".

I doubt they are actually different in length.

The Wabash unit in the catalog shows 054 curves needed

The Katy Heritage unit requires 036.

The longer measurement may include the couplers while the shorter may not.

I just went and measured my Katy Heritage unit...it is 19" long INCLUDING THE COUPLERS. It runs fine on 036 curves.

Perhaps you could call Lionel directly to get the actual measurement of the Wabash unit with and without couplers.

Mark

I run my sd70 ace with the big up flag on it and it does 042 but the rear of the truck swings out quite abit.

Well where are the pictures!  I'm really enjoying these heritage engines so I'd love to see it

Mike