Smallest Turn Radius to allowed for all locomotives?

[RetroACE135]

So something I've been kinda stumped at is how small of a turn radius can I make to allow for the largest locomotive to make it through?

I'm having trouble figuring out a good curve radius for a turn around at the Sawmill, I want it to be almost a 180 from the side the logging pond is on, to the loading platforms for the lumber and beams. The problem is that anything and everything I try looks like it would be too tight of a turn to take, even at low speed, or too wide of a turn and I wouldn't be able to utilize space efficiently for a small spur I want to put in.

I know that real live logging and narrow gauge railroads were infamous for having really tight layouts and spaces the locomotives had to deal with, but most used small locomotives to allow for it. I would like to try and use a few of the Cooke locos, and I know those guys are fairly "large" compared to something like the Climax (mostly because of their tender), but don't want to have too tight of a squeeze turning them around.

I'm just trying to "futureproof" my lines ahead of time instead of trying to figure out how to reroute a line already laid down when I finally do get a "big boy" locomotive. I also want to have the full experience and use realistic physics as an added challenge. lol

[Aberd]

I have a number of 30m radius turns on my save and all the engines in game get around them just fine, even all the 2-8-0s. Where I have room, I've used 40-50m radius turns, but to get around some industries like the sawmill and smelter and Iron mine, they are 30-35m.

[RetroACE135]

Originally posted by wmcdonald25:

I have a number of 30m radius turns on my save and all the engines in game get around them just fine, even all the 2-8-0s. Where I have room, I've used 40-50m radius turns, but to get around some industries like the sawmill and smelter and Iron mine, they are 30-35m.

So 30-35m isn't too unreasonable?

I'll try them out and see. Thanks for letting me know! I appreciate the help!

[cofg509]

I've started over and try to use a minimum of 70m for when the larger locomotives come. For the tight industries that I can't get any bigger than the 30m I'll just assign one of smaller locomotives to service them.

[STRATOCH1EF]

Originally posted by cofg509:

I've started over and try to use a minimum of 70m for when the larger locomotives come. For the tight industries that I can't get any bigger than the 30m I'll just assign one of smaller locomotives to service them.

Yeah ive just finished the whole map aiming for 80m minimum. Only at the sawmill and iron mine did I have to go tighter. I thought I read somewhere that 70m was the min for engines like the class 70, but I guess folks aren't having problems. I honestly haven't even tried, I use Heislers as yard shunting locomtives at those/ most industries.

[DishDoggie]

it is funny because all of the landscape elevation at the Industries Hills Humps elevation rise is intentionally made to force you to us 30 - 40m turns. They could of cut back the hills and made larger flatland but they did this to force problems in track placement. You can get some help with putting the track in on a higher elevation so you get 1 or 3m more in your turn but you will still be forced to get it done to the best of your design. Large longer engines are non usable on this Map so be ready to pay more money for better maps sold as DLC someday if ever. Just do not worry about it just don't slam on the brake on low radius turns.

[Schlappspaten]

You can make a 38m radius curve from one side to the other and even squeeze in some easement with wider radius to turn into the corner. All current engines will handle it fine and won't look too bad. You'd have to start the curve before the end of the beam loading platform to avoid the hill though. You can't put a switch for a spur into the curve but into the adjacent straights.