Re: More track at Como

Posted by John Greenly on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/More-track-at-Como-tp5640p5660.html

I remember talking with a guy directing some track work on the RR near my home some years ago.  He said that curves don't like to stay curved until they are connected to good lengths of tangent track at both ends, or at least to some longer stretches of track that can distribute the stresses.  I think he said that they don't usually have sidings ending in a curve for that reason.  I've always thought about the cost saving of narrow gauge trackage in terms of the narrower width and lighter loading of the right-of-way that needs to be constructed, and of course the cost of rail and other materials,  but I guess the ease and speed of laying the lighter rail might be a significant factor too.   You could probably comment on how much easier it might go if you were using 40 lb rail instead of 65.  Since the stiffness of a beam goes as the cube of its thickness, as does its weight per unit length, so 40 lb rail, if it were the same shape but just scaled down, should be 40/65 or only about 60% as stiff, not to mention just easier to move around.  The flip side of that of course is the greater stability of heavier trackage, and potentially less maintenance cost in the long term.  

Cheers,
John