Does a Dash 9 Ho Scale Locomotive Need 22" Turn Track - Model Railroader Magazine
Andrew Walker
Updated on April 07, 2026
- Member since
July 2006 - From: Austin, Texas
- 875 posts
Your GP9, F7, and B30-7 are four axle locomotives, so they can handle the 18" curves without a problem. The Dash 9, AC4400, and pretty much any other six axle locomotives will require broader curves since there will be a lot of overhang from the pilots. This overhang is what will derail anything that is coupled to it, so a minimum of 22" is recommended by the manufacturers. You can probably modify the loco in order to reduce the overhang, but by far the easiest thing to do is to use a long shank coupler, like a kadee #26.
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
