Hi Folks, I am planning a specialized portable layout. I need to know the minimum radius that the Brill and PCC cars can handle. Usually that sort of info is part of the product description. I recall an Athearn switcher in the 1950's that ran on a track with a silver dollar as the inside rail. So, What is the minimum radius for Brill and PCC trolleys?
Thanks, Bill
It is variable. Bachmann recommends 11.25" Radius or greater, but most should make like 7 or 8 inch radius, some will make even tighter radius curves, each trolley/streetcar is different within a range of a few inches.
OK. Thanks. I suspect I will just have to get one or two and try them. I was expecting the radius to be in the 6 or 7 inch range considering the short length and independent trucks. Do you know if the Brill or the PCC style handles shorter radii?
Quote from: outofscale on June 16, 2011, 05:18:40 PMDo you know if the Brill or the PCC style handles shorter radii?
Some will, some won't, just ask you LHS if you can test it on 6 inch radius before committing to buying it.
UPDATE: I made a small loop of Atlas flex track. It is a circle with radius 7 inches. On this loop, I have successfully run an older RS-3. Such a loco is longer than the trolley chassis from Bachmann. Next up, I will try a Bachmann Brill trolley on the loop.
Bill
Quote from: outofscale on June 19, 2011, 03:49:37 PMIt is a circle with radius 7 inches. Next up, I will try a Bachmann Brill trolley on the loop.
You should be fine with 7 inch radius, maybe 1 out of 100 might have an issue for no apparent reason. So there is a 99% chance you'll be fine.
:) Yes indeed, the Brill trolley navigates the 7-inch circle just fine - both directions and both orientations. I am pretty sure it would handle tighter radii as well. The nearly new trolley arrived and worked. I cleaned a little lint out and added a small amount of lubrication to help it work even better.
I have not tried a PCC style trolley.
Bill
Hey Bill,
Is your new trolley a Brill or a Peter Witt? And have you seen the Uni-tram street trackage from Kato?
Regards,
The other Bill in FL
It is a Brill. I have plenty of old flex track left over from my old layout. Now, I am planning a portable layout to go into a guitar carry case. My intent was to spend a minimum on track (read that as 'no $$$') and jut have a little fun at train shows. I saw a photo of one and it struck a chord.
You can check out my old N-Scale layout at my personal site: http://wpporter.duckburg.us/ if you have nothing better to do.
Bill