The answer is "it depends" on the following:
- Is your track tubular (round top) or flat-top (FasTrack, Atlas, MTH, Gargraves/Ross)?
- How big are the cars? The general math formula is that your curves need to be at least three times the distance between the truck bolsters (where they swivel on the cars). For a distance of 12" (60-foot car) you'd need 36" radius (O-72).
- In determining the last point, are your curves large enough?
- Do you have Kadee couplers on at least some of your equipment. I have several transition cars with a scale coupler on one end and a hi-rail coupler on the other.
For the record, I run scale-wheeled locomotives and rolling stock at the club all the time (almost exclusively now). We have a 48" mainline radius (O-96), Gargraves and Atlas track, and Ross turnouts (#5 as opposed to O-72) on the mains. I don't get a lot of derailments on the rolling stock, but some of my six-axle diesels take issue with some areas of the layout. My plan for lighted cars is to just put them on batteries and LEDs. You can see the stuff run on my numerous YouTube videos.
