All of this makes perfect sense, and I actually like the concept. Its just the thing about using the gauge, as you stated, "backward" or "forward" that had me stupified, since I have never even thought of a gauge as having a front or a back. I view this widening or tightening ability of 3-point gauges as a neat little, accidentally-built-in feature!
John Degnan [EMAIL PROTECTED] Southeast Georgia S SCALER ----- Original Message ----- From: ed_loizeaux To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2006 12:00 PM Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Three-Point Track Gauges -- Problems > I was under the impression that they would NARROW the gauge on curves, not widen them. But then, I guess it would depend on which rail you had the gauge on... the INNER rail of the curve or the OUTER rail... if on the inner rail it should narrow the gauge and on the outer rail it should widen the gauge. No? > John Degnan Mr. John...Many model railroaders like to widen the gauge on their sharper-than-prototype curves to permit large steam locos -- such as the 4-8-4 type -- to negotiate the sharp curves without binding. The wider gauge has no other disadvantages and makes life a lot easier for those large coal-fueled water-powered locos of days gone by. One of the main advantages of the three-point track gage is that this gauge "adjustment" is more or less automatic. On sharper curves, the widening effect is greater. On gradual curves, it is lesser. No need to buy micrometers, etc. Unless you are building turnouts on curves, there is no reason not to widen the gauge a bit. Even with curved turnouts, it is a good idea but you have to be a bit more careful with guard rails, frogs, and the like. If the three-point gauge is used incorrectly (backwards), it will narrow the gauge and end results might not be to your liking. While there are many other ways to insure that large steamers can negotiate sharp curves, gauge widening is probably the easiest to accomplish. Cheers...Ed L. . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
