Track Geometry Table

[Gizzy]

I thought I would make up an Excel Table with the Track Geometry for G scale curves.

This is what I've done so far.

LGB ART PIKO Diameter Ft Diameter mm Radius mm Pieces per Circle
R1 (30 deg) 4 ft R1 4 ft 1200 600 12
R2 (30 deg) 5 ft 5 ft 1500 750 12
6.5 ft R3 7 ft 1844 922
R3 (22.5 deg) 8 ft R5 8 ft 2400 1200 16

If anyone else can add for other makes then if they post here, I will add them to my spread sheet for publication on the forum....

 

[Gizzy]

Hmm the formatting doesn't seem to work after editing.

I will work on this....

 

[Gizzy]

 

[beavercreek]

EXCEL-ent! Gizzy could you add R5 and the other makers BIG stuff like Aristo's 20ft jobbies

 

[Gizzy]

EXCEL-ent! Gizzy could you add R5 and the other makers BIG stuff like Aristo's 20ft jobbies

I could indeed if you can supply me with the relevant ART geometry Mike?

I'm only familiar with the smaller radii of LGB and PIKO, so any help with ART, USAT, Trainline and any other track makes, from anyone else, would be most helpful....

 

[Gizzy]

Update with PIKO added....

 

[beavercreek]

As requested Gizzy:

LGB
R5 diameter 4640mm (15' 2") (nominally 16Ft ) 24 to make circle

ART
10ft diameter 12 to make circle
11.5 diameter 16 to make circle
12.5 diameter 16 to make circle
14 diameter 16 to make circle
15ft diameter 16 to make circle
16.5ft diameter 16 to make circle
20ft diameter 16 to make circle

 

[Gizzy]

Cheers Mike!

An updated table....

 

[BakerJohn]

I almost did the same thing a few weeks ago, but this is much more thorough. Well done!

 

[ntpntpntp]

I drew this up 5 years ago as a basic visual aid to how the main manufacturers curve radii roughly matched up. It's been posted before on here and/or GSM. Probably out of date, but anyway...

 

[Paul M]

Useful little guide! Well done

 

[Alexander0654]

This is my table Been using it for some time ( you can tell from some of the prices )

LGB Deg' No /
Circle R ( mm ) R ( inch ) Dia ( Ft ) Dia ( mm ) Euro
New
11000 R1 30 12 600 23.62 3.94 1200
15000 R2 30 12 765 30.12 5.02 1530
16000 R3 22.5 16 1175 46.26 7.71 2350 140
18000 R5 15 24 2363 93.03 15.51 4726 319.2 13.3
Aristo-Craft
11600 22.5 16 1219.2 48.00 8.00 2438.4
11800 30 12 1524 60.00 10.00 3048
Thiel
TN313 R2 45 8 765 30.12 5.02 1530 100
TN314 45 8 930 36.61 6.10 1860 130
TN315 R3 45 8 1175 46.26 7.71 2350 171.92 21.49 27.12.17
TN316 45 8 1350 53.15 8.86 2700 178
TN317 30 12 1525 60.04 10.01 3050 242.88 20.24 05.08.17 FGB Berlin
TN318 30 12 1750 68.90 11.48 3500 240.00 20
TN319 30 12 1925 75.79 12.63 3850 263.40 21.95 27.12.17
TN320 30 12 2100 82.68 13.78 4200 311.40 25.95 27.12.17
Piko
35211 G-R1 30 12 600 23.62 3.94 1200 R1 82.80 6.90
35213 G-R3 30 12 922 36.30 6.05 1844 R2 147.60 12.30
35215 G-R5 15 24 1243 48.94 8.16 2486 R3 203.04 8.46
35217 G-R7 15 24 1565 61.61 10.27 3130 198.48 8.27 27.12.17 eurotecnica
US Trains
R81700 30 12 1524 60.00 10.00 3048
Train Line 45
30 12 1200 47.24 7.87 2400 R3 132.00 11.00 27.12.17 Zenner

Looks much better in the MS Excel original

 

[Paradise]

The 'R' size is a different measuring system with 'Train Line 45' products. The 'R' number is the closest radius in feet unlike LGB system.
There is a chart on their website although the first 2 rows seem illogical.
https://www.trainli.com/straight-p-55

A Pro Switch R4 switch is the same as an LGB R3 switch (aprox 4ft radius).
Below: Pro Switch R3 3ft radius switch which is only a little longer but much nicer than LGB R1 2ft radius switch.

 

[stockers]

Unless your space is quite restricted, say a flower bed or similar, I would suggest not getting too caught up in track geometry. We are not talking indoor baseboards out in the garden, but possibly an irregular shape with rather more room than the attic or spare bedroom.

Therefore, I tend to let the ground level and the natural boundaries dictate where my rails go and I tend to use curves of differing degrees and diameter to best fit the conditions. If building in an area with a bit of space I would suggest one to have a few different curves available and build the base-work to follow the track rather than the other way round. It is dead easy to pull the final ends together if you want a loop.

And don't worry about cutting a section to make it fit - one piece of track is hardly expensive.

But, as always - get something running early on, even if it's just a short out and back - and enjoy yourself.