Advice on using 036 curves and layout

I built my layout using all Fastrack and all of the curves are O36 except for the outer loop. You will be limited to either compressed or non-scale engines and passenger cars for the most part. I have several of the LionMaster steamers and they look pretty good but what looks best to me are the GP35s that Lionel has come out with in the past couple of years. Most postwar will be fine and tinplate looks pretty darn cool too. I have 18 switches in the layout with not a lot of space. So the diameter curves are not an issue as long as the trains you really want to own and run will fit. I just added the tinplate elevated rail this year to run some older pre-war tin.

You can get lots of good looking stuff that will run on O36 curves.  Everything I own, but one locomotive that was a gift so I had no say in it, is rated at O27 or O31.  That includes a Dreyfuss Hudson, Big Boy, Cab Forward, Allegheny, 0-6-0 Dockside, S-2, EP-5, GG1, and GP38-2s to name a few.  The only thing scale are the GP38-2s and the 0-6-0, the rest are semi-scale or traditional.  They all look fine to me.  Go with the O36 and enjoy getting started.  If you go with a different track other than FasTrack, you can get at least one loop of track bigger than O36.  My one locomotive is O42, so I'll have an Atlas loop of O45 track to run it on (But I have a feeling it'll actually run on O36, just haven't tried it yet, maybe tonight...).  I'd put the two 4x8s together in an L formation and go with it.

A plus, the manual 036 switch does a great job on reversing loops. We run a pair of these on our Christmas display. It has two reversing loops and is in a folded dog bone shape. The layout runs reliably unattended for hours on end.

It will limit you to the scale engines and rolling stock you can run.

Gilly

One thing which will help with the appearance is to use easements in and out of your turns.   For example, instead of using six O36 track sections to make a semi-circle, make the first and last track sections O45 or O48 (depending on what track you are using). 

--Greg

Greg,

    I am using fastrack so please advise me on the size curves to use.  I am interpreting what you said is that it is easier for the train to make curves if you vary the size of the track at the beginning and end of the turns.  Is that correct?  Thanks for your input. Dana

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Fastrack would be O48 and yes,  your understanding is correct.

--Greg

If it were me, I'd use the broadest curves I could use. On an 8' by 8', I believe I could fit O72 curves. Sure it prohibits a lot of track complexity of your layout. 

my advice would be to get a switch and an uncoupling track, just 1 of each.  When I first got back into the hobby, I kept buying more cars and looking for engines I could afford to hotlap.  Then I got my first switch, and realized that I kept buying new rolling stock and engines because I was bored.  The switch and uncoupling track gave me major play value.

I guess, what I'm getting at is, some people really enjoying switching and playing/realistic train movement.  Other people really enjoy just letting trains run circles.  Of course you can always fall in between.  If you like to watch the trains run loops, I would go with a bigger cirlces 072 and 060.  If you like switching and playing a bit, I would consider 036 and perhaps 048 and maybe even some 060.  8x8 is not small, I'm stuck on 4x8 which O36 turns.  I still run scale equipment (overhang is part of life).

Decided to go with the 036 track plan as it allows more room for all the numerous accessories I have where the 070 and 060 layout I had picked was almost all curved track and I plan to do alot of switching.  Thanks for all of your replies.

Here is an idea of what can be done with FasTrack O36 if you go with an L setup.  You can run two trains at once or one long train, have a passing siding, a parking spur, and a few yards and/or industries.  All with lots of action and placed for operating accessories.  And you'll find that some locomotives can go tighter then they are specked for.  My one O42 locomotive will run on O36 just fine.  I tested it last night.  How it'd handle an )36 S curve, that I didn't try, but it did go in a loop without any issues, and it was pulling a caboose around too.