Re: curve minimums

Hi,

A little off-topic, the minimum radius is based an how the locomotives are designed. The Pennsylvania RR designed its 4-6-2s, 2-8-2s and 2-10-0s to navigate 150' radius curves.

There were blind drivers and extra journal box side play to do it.

This was because some wye's were old and designed for 4-4-0s. Instead of building a new wye or adding a turntable, the PRR chose to design the locos for the existing radii.

Another point, many Lionel locomotives can navigate 0-27 ionel track. O-27 is a 13.5" radius.

AS mentioned above, the URwy's 2-8-2's had to be loaded on flat cars for Baxter Pass. The Little River logging company wanted a 2-8-2 but the sharp radii caused the development of the 2-4-4-2.

Doug vV