Hey Y’all;
Wonder what radius those curves would scale to be there at old Oelwein, Iowa, roundhouse where switches replaced turntable.
The tightest curve looks to be on the second track from the bottom. A rough estimate using Photoshop puts it at 115’ radius. In 1:29, that’s 4’ radius.
Later,
K
May I suggest that you look in a good Route Location and design Handbook, it will give you the necessary formulas to determine radius and length, etc. of all curves. Now remember that Railroads used ‘degree of curvature’ for their curves which puts another twist to the calculations and gives some strange redii! But you can run out the radius by doing the math with the number of feet that are the radius and your scales proportion. Me, I try to make a 90 degrees and set a stake at the center (at the number of feet radius I want). I like 10 feet or better 15 or 20 feet. Things look so much better at the radius!
Paul
Wow, that’s different! Never seen a set up like that before. I noticed there are freight cars on the tracks (covered hoppers?)… so I’m guessing they don’t use the roundhouse for locos.