Does anybody have any idea about running an SD-45 loco on a 22" radius
curve. Is it marginal or will it run well.
I have one and it goes fine on 22"r and atlas # 4 customline turnouts. It has never derailed in the year that I've had it.
i have had several sd45s over the years. most were athearn and would run on 18" radius. in later years i bought a bachmann one and ran it on 24" radius. it worked well, and it should have no problems on 22.....
note that the athearn and bachmann sd45s have completely different pivot pionts for the trucks due to their construction. the wheelbase is the same, but the athearn trucks pivot on the frame down at the bolster the same as the real ones. the bachmann ones have a split frame, and their trucks pivot from the top of the gear tower, at least an inch higher than the athearn ones. they are bound to have different operating characteristics on sharp curves because of this.
the only bachmann 6 axle locomotive i had previous to the sd45 was a c40-8, which derailed on 18" radius but ran fine on 22.....its construction was similar to the sd45, with the high pivot point.
Thanks, fellas.
I have several SD45's ,Bachmann and they all run fine on 18in radius.
You have to have good track work that's all.
Bob