banjoflyer posted:RICKC posted:Guys, I'm still kinda new with S scale so this may be a stupid question. I just received the new Lionel big book for 2018. I see that the new American Flyer Berkshires take a minimum curve of S36. BUT, I see they only have switches of R20 and R27. American Models doesn't have any switches larger than 27" radius. The same for MTH, if I remember correctly. Sooooo, how do you get your engines to switch tracks? I have run large engines in O scale thru smaller switches and they either just run thru very slow or bind or derail. Again, Soooooo, does anyone make a larger switch, like an S36, for hi-rail wheels?
Thanks, Rick
S36 is a Lionel fuzzy thinking number. There really is no such thing. What they are trying to convey is that their engines will negotiate a track curve having a minimum 20" radius like the original Gilbert curves. That leads to a track making a 40" diameter circle. Where they got the "36" from is anyone's guess. (perhaps an incorrect nod to the O scale "O36"?)
No one really know why Lionel continues to use this track diameter misnomer as it makes no sense and causes confusion like you experienced.
So, in short, all the Lionel S scale engines will negotiate r20 curves and all the S gauge manufacturers offer turnouts with this radius curve.
Mark
"S36" -- When I make a circle out of 12 curve sections of my original 1952 American Flyer track, the track diameter (measured from the center of the inner and outer rails) is 38". But when I measure the diameter between the inside edges of the black metal track 'ties' the distance is almost exactly 36". Probably just a coincidence?
