Published: 22 April 2025 – first draft
Questions to Ask Yourself
- #1 How much space do I have?
- #2 What kind of rolling stock (continent, railway company, historic or modern) do I model?
- #3 Do I generally prefer mainstream or niche products?
Track Geometry
Although we model real trains at a scale that is 20 to 30 times smaller, the physics of the real world still apply. Therefore, in general both the large scale track and the wheel sizes of the rolling stock are over dimensioned to guarantee trouble-free running, especially outdoors.
For example, the United States main line railway network that has an absolute minimum radius of 125 meter (~ 410 ft) for general service. Compare that the narrow gauge tracks of the Swiss Rhaetian Railway (RhB), that allow a minimum radius of ‘just’ 45 meters (~ 148 ft).
Translating this to our large scale model trains, we are looking at a minimum radius of more than 4 meters (~ 13 ft) for the US main line example, or 2 meters (~ 6.5 ft) for the RhB narrow gauge example. So for a full circle, you need at least double that. Not many people have that kind of space outdoors, let alone indoors.
Manufacturers of large scale track generally provide a number of fixed curve radii as sectional track that allows you to get started easily. If you need any other curve radius, you are obliged to go for flex track.
An overview:
- G Scale Track Geometry – LGB
- G Scale Track Geometry – PIKO
- G Scale Track Geometry – Train Line 45
- G Scale Track Geometry – USA Trains
- G Scale Track Geometry – Thiel