Steam Era Shelf Layout Questions

[tmlbk]

Due to space needs, I had to tear down my 12' x 15" around the room, modern era layout.  Not wanting to get completely out of the hobby, I've decided to build a 22" x 14' shelf layout and would like it to be steam era based.  The plan it to have it appear to be a point-to-point layout with lots of switching opportunities, but actually have the ability for short trains to travel in continuous loops.  I have a few questions...

- Which DCC steam engines can make it around a 9" radius (I plan to hide these under mountains at either end of the shelf.)
- of those that can make these turns, which ones would you recommend?
- any engines I should specifically avoid?

I think I was able to salvage almost all of the prior layout's Peco Code 55 track and switches by soaking the ballast, gently prying the track loose, and scrubbing the ballast off the track with a wet brush after letting it soak, submerged, for an hour or so.  It looks to be in great shape.  

- Anything I need to consider before reusing it?

Thanks for all your help!

[DaveB]

The Bachman 2-8-0 is a nice engine that should be ok.  Would it be possible to add a little bit to the 22 inches toward each end to get a little wider radius? You could use use an S curve with flextrack to narrow the shelf back down in the middle if that was important.  I don't think it would take much to get to an 11 or 12 1/2 inch radius, and that might help quite a bit.

[learmoia]

Comment Removed.

[tmlbk]

sorry for the typo.  The old layout was 12' x 15'

[victor miranda]

9 inch radius....
the Atlas/micro-ace mogul will run around that.


it can be a good loco.  oil the motor a few times
and clean up the pickups in the tender.
you will get good service from it.

I'd bet the b-mann 0-6-0 will run the 9 inch radius also.

victor

[SkipGear]

The Bachmann 0-6-0 is a definite canidate. I know for sure it will run around a 6.5" radius for days on end. We run one on our display layout in the shop that is 17" x 42".

Others that should be fine on 9". Push it to 10"R if you have 22" depth because even an Athearn Big Boy will run on 9 3/4"R. If you can push it to 10"R you should be good most steam.

[AlkemScaleModels]

My Key 2-6-6-2 will negotiate a 7 inch radius.