Minimum practical radius

[Spookymooo]

Hi, space is limited in an outbuilding where I am about to build a return loop and fiddle yard for an 00 garden railway. What is the minimum practical radius I need to plan for.
Thanks
Rob

[Steve M]

Depends on which locos you intend to run.
As a rule of thumb, 0-4-0 and most 0-6-0 will manage radius 1, everything else will need at least radius 2.

[Spookymooo]

Thanks Steve, I guess as I have some A4s..4-6-2s I will need the biggest radius I can muster... What does radius 1, 2 etc mean in terms of radius measurement?

[Walkingthedog]

Take a look at this. Peco set track is the same radius as Hornby.


https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/hornby-track-planner

[Spookymooo]

I intend using Peco code 100 metre lengths and will creating the curved sections myself. Trying to work out the baseboard width for a decent 2 way 180 degree return curve.... thinking 5 feet at the moment..

[Walkingthedog]

Well the link I posted should give you an idea. 4th rad needs about 4ft so 5 should be fine. Will you have access all round the board or a hole in the middle?

[Spookymooo]

Yes, the 180 degree curve will be at the end of a board and I will have access to the end and one side...

[Spookymooo]

Ps....not 100 metre lengths

[Walkingthedog]

If you have access to one end and one side how will you reach across a 5ft board. Sorry to keep on about this but you will have real problems if you can’t easily reach.

[Spookymooo]

Cheers... no problem, thanks for your thoughts.. my idea is that the curve will carry on to about 270degrees and then sweep parallel to the oncoming tracks.. only the return curve will be 5’ wide... the straight sections with storage loops will be about 3’ wide