LGB Track & Switches

 

Most people from smaller scales will naturally express curves in radius.

Well, LGB, who basically "started" Large Scale, uses diameter, for what reason, people can only speculate. (Probably to know what space a simple loop would occupy, since space is ALWAYS an issue especially in Europe where this started.)

LGB also expressed it's diameters as "R" curves (could it be more confusing)?"  ( why not D? maybe because word for radius can begin with D?)

The table below shows some helpful measurements, and the measurement of a curve is from the center line of the curve/track.

Note: you will see different numbers for some of the "R" values on other sites. I went to a lot of trouble to try to get to the bottom of this, and have the LGB numbers from LGB. People will often round R2 to 1500, and R3 to 2400, and R5 to 4800, but the reason these numbers are "weird" is because of the geometry to get them to all work together for parallel curved tracks, etc.

 

LGB "R"
number
 common LGB
 track number
degrees
per section
switch
number
frog
number

true radius
MM

true diameter
MM
true diameter
inches
true radius
 inches
 closest foot
 diameter
 closest foot
 radius
notes
 R1 11000 30 12050
 12150
 2 600 1200 47.244 23.622 4' 2' 
 R2 15000 30 none  778 1556 61.26 30.63 5' 2-1/2' 
 R3 16000 22.5

 16050
 16150

 3.5 1198 2396 94.33 47.16 8' 4' 
 R4 see note      ~3500   ~11-1/2'  
 R5 18000 15 18050
 18150
 5 2320 4640 182.68 91.34 15' 7-1/2' 
   1236
12360
       

3 way switch
both R1

   1235       3 way switch
R1 and R2+ 22.5 degrees arc - out of production
   1225       double slip - original - out of production - had manual knob
   1226
12260
       double slip - current production -

 

 

Note: Tom Trigg indicates that at one time there was an R4 turnout which was also supplied with a single piece of curved track as a "parallel track" adapter. Maybe in the early 80's.

ALL the LGB switches are "curved" meaning that the rails beyond the frog are curved not straight as in a prototype switch.

They are all "flange bearing" frogs. This means the flange rides on the bottom of the flangeway as it goes through the frog. This works fine if all your flanges are the same depth as LGB flanges, i.e. 3 mm, but anything less means your wheels will try to run on the wing rails and frog (as in the prototype) and you may experience reliability problems.

Many manufacturers did this to match their curved track, especially with the ultra-sharp curves made initially.

The equivalent "frog number" of various LGB switches listed above are close approximations.

LGB Track power "clips". Very useful for temporary power, and programming tracks:

 

LGB also made some nickel plated brass track, but it was not popular, there were quality control issues, some of the plating peeled off, and some people apparently ground through it with a stalled LGB track cleaning loco.

In addition, a little-known fact is that for a short time, LGB made chrome plated aluminum track, available in a starter set and not intended for outdoor use:

http://lgbyarner.blogspot.co.uk/2013_07_01_archive.html

 

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