i am new the the hobby and i currently own the Chattanooga train set and i was looking into the overland limited and a track pack i feel these would be a good addition already given the large wood board I currently have or are there any other train sets that might be better? and digital commander i for sure am getting in the near future.
The Overland locomotive needs 22" radius or larger curves. That in itself is not a problem, but the switches in the expansion pack are 18" radius. That's too sharp for the 4-8-4 in the Overland set. Personally, I'd advise against using those switches anyway, because of the sharp curves. Look elsewhere in the catalog and you will find #5 and #6 switches that this locomotive will operate better on.
but the engine will still run on them or it will derail the second it get on on those curves and switches? or will it only derail at full speed?
Unlikely. It will probably climb the frog where the rails cross.
One important principle that one learns traveling Model Railroad's journey is to always use the largest possible radius curve and switch number., not the smallest possible. Even those larger numbers on models are typically implausible on the prototype, but models always operate better and look better on the widest possible curvature.
Quote from: MikadoFan2564 on September 02, 2025, 12:45:32 AMbut the engine will still run on them or it will derail the second it get on on those curves and switches? or will it only derail at full speed?
Bachmann themselves recommend 22" radius. Going sharper than that is asking for problems. You would be pushing and possibly exceeding the physical limits of the locomotive itself. When you exceed the physical limits it will derail at any speed because it simply cannot negotiate that curve. Why would you as a beginner want to go against what the manufacturer recommends? That sound like a mighty expensive lesson to me. So you basically have two choices: either use the track that the locomotive will run well on, or get a different set with a smaller locomotive and use the track pack. Personally, I'd opt for the gentler curves and #6 switches, because if you use the sharper curves alot of cars and locomotives aren't going to perform well on them.
my mom got me some 18 radius turnouts i wont be using them with the overland limited but i will use them with my lil chattanooga switcher thankfully hobby lobby the store my mom got it from seems to have some ez track so i might some some stuff there just for basic stuff with my 80$ and i finally bought the over land limited in coming next week!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D