Considerations for Layout Plans: Designing Curved Track Sections

One of the toughest decisions to be made during track planning is setting up the curve radii that you'll be using. Prototype railroads operate on much broader curves than we can use. The good news is that model railroad equipment can negotiate much sharper curves. The trick to selecting appropriate curves for a compact layout, like Paul's, is picking different radii in different situations. Instead of adopting a single compromise radius. Use the broadest possible radii where mainline curves are visible, and seen from the outside of the arc. Such as this 26 inch radius curve. Use tighter curves for visible curves seen from the inside. For hidden curves and for curves on branch lines or other routes with shorter locomotives and cars. Paul adopted 24 inch radius curves for mainline hidden track and staging. And 18 inches for hidden branch line track. Sharp, visible convex curves seen from the outside can be disguised to look broader and more attractive. Raising mainline curves above the height of any adjacent curves will help. Gradually raise the outer rail about six scale inches. Passing trains on sharp or banked curves look much more prototypical, dramatic, and massive, than they do on broader, flat mainline curves. Use easements. Smooth flowing transitions to connect straight track and sharp curves. Block unflattering views of sharp curves by visual distractions. Adding foreground details, such as structures, trees, highway overpasses, or industries across your sharpest curves, will draw the eye away from the curve toward your details. And move curves away from the edge of the layout to create space for visual distractions. This is particularly useful on corners of your layout, such as here at Wells. One to three feet of open space between sharp mainline curves and eye ledges allowed Paul to add this structure, which distracts the observer. You can help visitors form a very positive impression of your layout's sophisticated curve alignments. By modeling at least one stretch of a very sweeping, very broad radius cosmetic curve. If it is a convex curve, seen from the outside, it will look even larger than if seen from the inside of a concave curve. Paul has placed two such curves in two prominent locations, where guests observe them near the layout room entrance. By placing these visually pleasing curves at the entrance, visitors' first impressions prompt them to pay less attention to the sharper curves used elsewhere on the layout.