Comments on: Athearn SD40 on 18 Inch Curve Track

By: phil johnson

phil johnson — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 08:25:58 +0000

While Athearn’s SD40-2 will go around a 18″ rad. curve, a 50′ boxcar coupled to it may call you nasty names. Ditto also, for those cars with extended draft gear. The same also goes for 2 -2’s coupled. I would suggest 22″ if coupled to anything longer than 40-45′

By: Steven Attias

Steven Attias — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 22:11:49 +0000

I have a Mehano SD40 that does get around my 18″ curves on its own. It came with body mounted HookHorn couplers, but neither is currently mounted so I could not test it pulling cars. If I get a chance to mount couplers in the next few days, I’ll update this.

By: Michael Foster

Michael Foster — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 18:42:14 +0000

David,
Not sure if this referred to an HO or N gauge, when you say 18′ curves are you talking of an 18′ radius which would give a 36′ curve, that is what I am building my HO at.

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 01:49:13 +0000

It is possible to get 3 axle bogies around an 18″ curve, but some work on the loco (and rolling stock) will be necessary.
You will need to file the back of the corners on the front and rear ends and the front corners of the coupling boxes the get sufficient left/right swing. This is necessary even for bogies where the coupler is attached to the bogie.
Do not try and couple wagon with body mounted couplers to the loco – they will be pulled off the track as the train rounds the bend.
Use long shank couplers to avoid the corners of the loco and the first car locking buffers or bodies.
Close coupling will not generally work on 18″ curves and the effect of the train will appear toy like. Ofcourse if that is the space avaiable then you don’t have much choice.