Model Railroad track work fundamentals - Curves & Sidings

This video explains common mistakes with turnouts in track plans and how to avoid them. It also explains how to plan sidings for industries and how to create realistic curves through hyper elevation and curve easements.

I made this video as a response to the huge number of questions I get regarding track planning for new Model Railroads.

***************************
Please support the channel to help me, helping you & reaching out to new people, so they also can discover the ultimate hobby: Model Railroading!
or...

Thanks for your support! I couldn't do this without you!

Bitte unterstützen Sie ihren Kanal und helfen mir die Leidenschaft zum Hobby zu verbreiten.
oder..

Vielen Dank!

/ Marklinofsweden

**************************
I OWN EXTENDED rights for the MUSIC used in this video.
Title: Future Progress (SS_50103)
Album: Core Foundations
Composer: Jeff Marsh (BMI) 100%
Publisher: Sonic Desktop Publishing (BMI) 100%

Licence: Authorized to synchronize the music in timed relation with other audio/visual content and display/perform such productions on multiple Internet websites, including video-sharing websites (such as Vimeo, Facebook, YouTube, etc.) and third-party websites, so long as the music portion of the media is not retrievable and extractable as an audio file (on its own or separate from the visual). The right to use SmartSound music on video-sharing websites includes the right to monetize or otherwise allow ads to be placed in conjunction with the video or to collect money from a video-sharing website for the performance or display of any video containing SmartSound music.
Licence number provided on request.

[davidwilliams]

I knew to avoid S curves but I’ve never seen good alternatives before. The whole video was very useful, thanks.

[omelaurus]

I experimented with hyper-elevation (banking) but I overdid it. In combination with 3-rail mass block detection it caused some trains to loose contact to the outer rail and either stop (no more grounding) or fail block detection. Now I know you need just a tiny amount of elevation 👍

[paulsngaugechannel]

Always good bits of information. Elevation curves are sometimes difficult to gauge, but it’s essential when you run high speeds. An often forgotten detail on larger layouts. Thank you for your explanation. Excellent video. 😎

[josefbuckland]

I adore that blue coach in the opening picture please too let me know what it is. Thanks. I too released a new video this week with some wonderful surprises. Stay safe see you in the next one with more top tips

[petert]

Martin: good as ever. A migraine standard back to back S curve has crept in at 5:20. Transitions are difficult with set-track. Expensive Marklin flex is rarely mentioned anyWHERE by anyONE - I noticed you quietly slipped into 2 rail flex while describing spirals/ transitions. Has anyone any ideas on structurally sound '3-railing' of Peco etc. track? So far it has eluded me, the usual solutions seeming to lack mechanical integrity. Dumping the 'third rail' is one of the biggest blunders model railroading has ever made; three railing a loco effectively doubles the electrical pickup wheelbase. Much ink could be used on this.
Time means I don't catch your channel much, but on the odd occasion I do, it is always good, and readily recommended. Hope these ideas help. Time makes me cryptic; hope things are at least clear enough.
Peter

[robot]

1 s-curves are only frowned upon at "high" speed rail traffic. In layouts as I build, slow shunting layouts, an s-curve is fine. Curved turnouts are a primary source of derailment, henceforth they are not used in real life.
As far as I know, banking is useless in model railroading, unless used in high speed traffic. If and when derailments occurs, it will occur almost always on the inside of the track. Banking may only ad to derailments.

[melkitson]

That was most interesting especially the part about banking your curves. Very useful indeed.

[mooglesmodelrailways]

Good, informative video Martin. Especially about the double S curves. I learnt the hard way with those! 😂

[BillySugger]

Very helpful guide to forming easements, thank you!

[Almond_Railroad]

Hi, Martin, many thanks for this very useful video! Uppskattat :) One comment. I know that a model railroader has to make huge compromises during building a layout due to shortage of place. BUT! If anyone can: avoid to use short radii such as R1-R2 (depending on brand) about 360 mm. I know that most of producers approves to use even long steamer on such curves. But if you use curves with minimum radius of 437.5 mm(Märklin/Trix C), 419.6 mm (Roco Line), 425 mm (Tillig Elite), 421.9 mm (Piko A), etc (I am focusing now to the european H0 producers) you can avoid serious derailment issues and spiral curve transition or avoid double S curves are going to lose its importancy...

[mikeseba]

Thanks for this very useful video Martin!

[System_]

the curves are for trams, but not for railroad!, not realistic!!

[steveksi]

Nice. Pity we dont have the massive rooms to emulate the Real world Curve Radius.

[w.rustylane]

Hello, Martin, I'm glad to see some new videos. Cheers from eastern Tennessee

[dkservice]

One of the most informative videos I’ve seen on this subject.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge on this. I’ve been second guessing myself on my current track plan that I’ve been working on way too long now.

[azadnip]

Hey can you make a video about adding a bridge to the martinstown layout

[aaamodeltrainsandplanes]

So if i had a 15 radius track which part is considered 15 radius the inside rail or outside

[lindaoffenbach]

Highly helpful information packed in about 11 minutes, especially about turnout configurations to avoid problems such as derailments. We've tried banked curves and it took quite some experimentation to finally get them reliable without any loss of contact. Apparently, the outer rail only needs a fraction of elevation indeed.

[andreassimon]

Für mich einer der besten Modellbauer auf YouTube

[christophetardivat]

great video, simply explained but very useful!! getting ready for mid summer??