Originally Posted by Tom's Turnouts:
However, most folks will rely on the catalog listings.
That is exactly my last point. The catalogs state one thing, reality is another. I guess the advertisers say what makes for great promotion and as long as the trains run, what it actually is doesn’t matter. That’s why there is so much confusion about AM Flyer radii.
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So how much does it matter? Well that’s up to you. There is enough play in sectional track that you can ‘bend’ your circle to fit within the ranges mention here. My curiosity is what was it designed to be? I was quite surprised at the results for the AM Flyer radius. Also if you are using a program like CADrail to design your layout, if you do use the cataloged dimension you will be in for some surprises.
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
Well, the best I can come up with is that A.C. Gilbert measured track by total outside diameter and not radius, as did Lionel Corporation. And I believe that includes the outside edges of the ties.
The only real indication I could find was at:
http://www.myflyertrains.org/A...6_catalog_page29.htm
...which indicates a circle of Gilbert S Gauge track required a 40"x40" space.
It seems Gilbert chose 40" because that what was used in their O Gauge line from 1938:
http://www.myflyertrains.org/A...F_catalog_page24.htm
...Where Gilbert also offers justification for the choice of diameter.
In the imperfect world of the past, folks buying train sets for their kids were concerned if the track would fit somewhere, rather than the exact radius of a curve. They could easily identify the space available on the dining room table, under the bed or around the Christmas tree and not worry about silly little things like radius. I know when my folks bought our first Lionel set for my older brother, they weren't worried about track radius. They just wanted something to keep him occupied and inside while he was sick.
Even later, all we were worried about was would "the Lionel" fit on a 4'x8' sheet of plywood.
And I myself didn't worry about this thing called radius until I got into HO at the ripe old age of 11.
Curses!!! I was learning about geometry and didn't even know it...
I would agree, it would be wonderful if all S gauge track was marketed as measured from the center of the track as in the "scale world."
But in most S cases: Tradition trumps reality.
Rusty