S-Curve problems?

Should be no problem for traditional sized equipment and truck mounted couplers.

Look at it this way, if you have a switch with a parallel siding or passing track, to go into that track, you're going through an S curve...

I had no trouble with the S curve formed by O31 switches:

Rusty

With the equipment you have described, you should be able to run trains over it.  However, you'll need to keep trains to a reasonable length and weight.  As a kid, I had all kinds of derailments with my Lionel Transformer car and the cars coupled to it.  It was my longest car and was cast metal instead of plastic.  It had four trucks, using span bolsters.  With reverse curves, "Long car, short car, no, no, no." 

If there is any way you can put a straight track section between the two opposing curves, your equipment will run even better.

Be especially careful that the track is not bent or have any dips in it.

Jim, I agree with Rusty and Tom, this is what toy trains are for. You can certainly get away with it.  As Roy points out, if you could sneak even a half section in there, it would help.

Good to see you playing with the trains again!

Here's 3 ways to get there - a full S using 2 -45° O36 curves and then using a 22.5° curves and 11.25° curves of O36.

Coming off an O36 switch is 11.25° without the 11.25° piece

They all get to and from the same point by adjusting the in between combination.

I agree that the two full curves shouldn't be a problem. The semi-scale berk (2-8-4) will cruise through it at less than high speeds.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

Jim, I agree with Rusty and Tom, this is what toy trains are for. You can certainly get away with it.  As Roy points out, if you could sneak even a half section in there, it would help.

Good to see you playing with the trains again!

Thanks Elliot! 

I never stopped playing with trains, but just been awhile since I have done any serious work on the layout.  

RoyBoy posted:

If there is any way you can put a straight track section between the two opposing curves, your equipment will run even better...

ABSOLUTELY!

Even a half section of straight track between the curves will improve tracking through the curves tremendously.

By the way, as part of our continuing education series, this is called a "reverse curve" on the 12-inch to the foot scale railroads.

I have done it with no straight in between with traditional size trains on O-36 fastrack and never had a derailment. I pull out the quarter curve for 6 inch spacing and pull out the pins to isolate the two lines. It is a little more difficult with fastrack as you have to bend the tabs underneath to pull the pins but you don't have to use plastic pins. I tried it last Christmas with O-27 and it didn't work out as well.

Just realized you were not talking about switches just curves. I was doing a crossover between tracks which is essentially an s curve. Sorry for the confusion. I still think you should be fine.