G scale Sectional Track or how I learned to stop worrying and love the bomb.

It is indeed that crazy! (reference the Stanly Kubrick movie)

Initially LGB, the pioneer, came up with a system that used "R" numbers for sectional track. It was never great, parallel track spacing would not always work for longer cars, some "R" numbers were missing (the almost vaporware R4), etc.

Then other companies picked up the nomenclature, but used different numbers.

Below is a "lookup" table to help you decode what "R" number from what manufacturer is, it is a real mess.

Note, the numbers below are APPROXIMATE, not exact, there is variation between manufacturers. Check the exact numbers on the manufacturer's site.

Pick your R number

Given an "R" number AND a manufacturer, what is the radius/diameter

"R" number	LGB diameter feet	Piko diameter feet	Train-Li diameter feet	Train Line 45 diameter feet	LGB radius feet	Piko radius feet	Train-Li radius feet	Train Line 45 radius feet
R1	4'	4'			2'	2'
R2	5'			6'	2-1/2'			3'
R3	8'	6'	6'	8'	4'	3'	3'	4'
R4	~11-1/2'		8'		5-3/4'		4'
R5	15'	8'			7-1/2'	4'
R6
R7		10-1/4'				5'+

Pick your diameter/radius

Given a target diameter/radius, who makes what and what is it called:

Diameter Feet	Radius Feet	LGB	Piko	Train-Li	Train Line 45	Aristo Craft	USA Trains
4	2	R1	R1			4'	4'
5	2-1/2	R2				5'	5'
6	3		R3	R3	R2
6-1/2	~3-1/4					6.5'
8	4	R3	R5	R4	R3	8'	8'
9	4-1/2					9'
10	5					10'	10'
10-1/4	~5		R7
11-1/2	~5-1/2	R4				11.5'
12-1/2	6-1/4					12.5'
14	7					14'
15	7-1/2	R5				15'
16	8						16'
16.5	~8-1/4					16.5'
20	10					20'	20'

Link to Piko track planning guide:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1960/4221/files/99350_G-Track_Flyer.pdf?9757276037842777937

Link to LGB track planning guide:

https://www.lgb.com/fileadmin/media/lgb/produkte/produktinformationen/LGB_Gleissystem-Info.pdf

Notes:

There is no R4 curved track from LGB
There is no even numbered curved tracks from Piko

What a mess huh?

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