Model Railroading > Is 22 degree Atlas track too tight?

Is 22 degree Atlas track too tight?
I laid out some test tracks on my on my now abandoned ping
pong table for return loops. for the new layout. The inside
loop is 22 degree Atlas snap track (I have a lot of it). The
outer loop will be flex track, a little wider. It will be double
track. I want to run Precision Y6, Broadway A, and 6 axle
diesels and old Riverossi Y6s. The looks going through this
area are not that important. I think I need to have 1 1/2"
between the tracks. There will be track outside these 2
tracks starting the climb to the upper level. I do not want
this area too wide.
Will this work? Or do I need to make the curve wider?
Thanks
hollywood
NS B-Line MP 74

I think you will need more than 1.5" spacing at the tight radius of 22" on an HO curve or longer equipment will clip each other while passing. The tighter the curve the more spacing needed.

You could lay some flex on a temporary basis and try different spacings out with your equipment.

Mike

Holi,

I assume you mean 22 inch radius track.

What are you planning on operation on this? You could do almost an 40 foot and fifty foot cars, sixty foot and more will both look a little funny and may not operate well. As for distance between tracks, two inches is fine for straight track but on curves, especially 22 inch, I'd say no less than 2 1/2 inches and perhaps as much as 2 3/4 inches would be better.

J.

3" with what you are planning to run.

Let's see, a ping pong table is 5' x 9' right? Your 22 degree curves will take 44" inches of table, and I assume the second track will be what, 24 inch radius?, which leads to 48 inches of table top used up. For a third track, your ascension track, you are limiting yourself with not too much table top left. I read that appearance is not important in this area....and that's a good thing too. I know a Superliner will take a 22 curve, but looks ridiculous....a 40 foot boxcar would be ok, as would probably a 50 footer. Is there anyway you could forgo this 22 inch radius? IMHO, the only thing I would run on that would be a SW1200 switcher and some 40 foot freight cars, but that's just me.

Oh and about my calculations...they could be wrong(particularly the second track...I calculated it at about 24 inch radi, but that may be wrong, because as others have said, you might need 3" of spacing, making the curve closer to 30" radius, which may not even fit on your table.

Me thinks you may have to scrap a track...and if this were me, I would work from the outside in..this way you can have the biggest curve available and work closer to the center.

I laid track on ping pong table to see what it would look
like. This is return loops on inside and start of climb to
upper level on outside. I checked and can get 2 1/2" to 3"
between tracks. I think it might work better to make return
loops bigger, make climbing track single track and start it
after loop turns back.
I will lay it out a little different and post a picture for
your suggestions. I think I am trying to do too much in this
area
Thanks for your suggestions
hollywood
NS B-Line MP 74

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I made the inside loop wider. it is 47" across now.
What ever I do ping pong table won't be final benchwork.
it will be no wider here than it has to be.
holywood
NS B-Line MP 74

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The 22 inch radius track will work with 50 ft and even 60-70 foot cars. 89 foot cars, you are definitely pushing it. Six axle diesel locomotives will also make it but your trackwork has to be real good. As for spacing on curves, at least 2.5 inches.

SantaFeRuss