Joined: 26/08/2016(UTC) Posts: 126 Location: British Columbia
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Hello, I have downloaded SCARM and I am experimenting with future layout designs and I was wondering if curved stations are pro typical. In my research, I have seen some curved stations such as the Berlin Central Station (although not the era I am modelling), and a few in Bavaria that were also curved. Does it really work to have a curved station in Marklin though? I ask this partially because the cars can't uncouple on curved track, so this would make shunting operations a little bit more difficult. I would like to model in a general sense Era 3 and 4 somewhere in Bavaria, so I'm mostly wondering if this was pro typical for that era. Thanks, Matthew
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 3 users liked this useful post by CanadianKid
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Joined: 30/01/2004(UTC) Posts: 276 Location: Houston, Texas
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Curved station platforms can be a great plan if you are building a small Marklin layout as pointed out by my friend Detmar. He had constructed several larger layouts starting in prewar Germany. His final layout was constructed when he was in his 90's in the United States. It was small about 1.5 X 3 meters with no grades and all the track in easy reach. He employed a double track loop and he placed the passenger station on one curve and had a removable tunnel on the opposite curve. The long straight sections had yards and industries for shunting.
Tex
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 4 users liked this useful post by Tex
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Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 8,227 Location: Montreal, QC
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There are many examples of stations where the platforms are situated on a curve. The new Berlin Main Station is an example, as is the Station at Arth-Goldau in Switzerland, where the lines from Zuerich and Luzern meet and the continue to the Gotthard line. I believe Zuerich-Oerlikon is also a curved station on the Zuerich-Winterthur line.
The problem with curved stations in Maerklin models is that there are a limited number of available curved switch tracks, which make having multiple station tracks and platforms a challenge. Most DC 2 Rail brands have a greater selection of switch track radii which make this a little more possible.
That said, a curved station is a great idea for a local line where there may be two station tracks (where trains can pass) and a dead end freight track.
Regards
Mike C
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 5 users liked this useful post by mike c
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Joined: 29/07/2007(UTC) Posts: 1,435 Location: Switzerland
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Originally Posted by: mike c  I believe Zuerich-Oerlikon is also a curved station on the Zuerich-Winterthur line. ...and don't forget Bern, the curviest main station in Switzerland, or Zurich Airport station.
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 4 users liked this useful post by Unholz
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Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC) Posts: 6,764 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Originally Posted by: CanadianKid  ... Does it really work to have a curved station in Marklin though? I ask this partially because the cars can't uncouple on curved track, so this would make shunting operations a little bit more difficult........ Thanks, Matthew Hi Matthew, Yes I think that is a real problem for the Marklin enthusiast. I can think of so many ways that a curved station ticks all the boxes for a layout, but the newer Marklin coupler design makes it so impractical. I have station platforms on a straight, and relegated shunting (switching) sidings with curves to fit the layout. On the switching curves, uncoupling and coupling are impossible. You could always combine straight and curve section on platforms, so if you need to uncouple or couple, the train is pushed back or pulled forward to the straight for those operations. And that in itself can be prototypical. The Marklin uncoupler tracks are in a straight section, and they are quite fun. Even better if your loco has the uncoupling mechanism. Kimball |
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge. |
 3 users liked this useful post by kimballthurlow
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Joined: 03/10/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,295 Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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Hello, I have a curved station in my layout, and I am very pleased with the result. Using R1, R2, R3, R4 (including slight 064 and 077 adjustment to get the spacing right) I think it looks great and works well on the layout Signals at the end of the platform. Regards, John 
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 17 users liked this useful post by Johnvr
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Br502362, Alsterstreek, Webmaster, Unholz, dennisb, CanadianKid, kimballthurlow, petestra, sjbartels, Jimmy Thompson, TEEWolf, PJMärklin, madhu.gn.71, klarinettmeister, CTD81, 1borna, ShannonN
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Joined: 16/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 5,845 Location: Hybrid Home
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Curved stations were and are common: Gummersbach, 1983 www.bahnen-wuppertal.deHamburg central station, 1989 www.doku-des-alltags.deI can even offer an image of an Austrian station (a "Haltepunkt" according to German definition as there are no turnouts) in a S-curve:  Wolfsbergkogel (Semmering main line) Alternatively, station tracks could be kept straight, while station throats are curved. Here the example of Guenzach in 2013: www.doku-des-alltags.de |
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 8 users liked this useful post by Alsterstreek
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Joined: 16/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 5,845 Location: Hybrid Home
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Regarding (un)coupling on curved track sections:
Impossible with short couplers, but possible with RELEX couplers.
Regarding turnouts:
Even if station tracks were curved, straight turnouts could be used in station throats. And vice versa, curved turnouts could lead to straight station tracks. |
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 4 users liked this useful post by Alsterstreek
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Joined: 03/08/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,571
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Hi Mathhew,
Curved stations are very protypical and not many stations have completely straight and equal sized platforms.
It is possible with Marklin C and K track. With K track you can make beautiful curves with flex track and Marklin C track also have wide radius curves. If the curve is larger enough you can sneak in a uncoupler without looking to odd.
I think the main problem is space restrictions. You can cramp down more tracks and platforms with straight sections. Once you start doing curves it gets more complicated and take up more space. It's of course also more easy if you are just doing a station with end tracks as you don't need to worry about tracks lining up to a turnout in the other end. The other proble is that you will have to make customized platforms.
Brgds Lasse |
Digital 11m2 layout / C (M&K) tracks / Era IV / CS3 60226 / Train Controller Gold 9 with 4D sound. Mainly Danish and German Locomotives. |
 4 users liked this useful post by Danlake
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Joined: 16/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 5,845 Location: Hybrid Home
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And to take things to the extreme: Wuppertal-Ronsdorf.  :o) |
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 6 users liked this useful post by Alsterstreek
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Joined: 26/08/2016(UTC) Posts: 126 Location: British Columbia
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Thanks everyone for the responses, I'm thankful for all this information I now have gained; hopefully I will be able to put some of this to practice today. Hopefully there might be some results of my experimenting with SCARM by the end of the week, and if so, I will try to post a few screenshots or so of it. Thanks, Matthew
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 4 users liked this useful post by CanadianKid
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Joined: 16/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 5,845 Location: Hybrid Home
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 3 users liked this useful post by Alsterstreek
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Joined: 16/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 5,845 Location: Hybrid Home
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 4 users liked this useful post by Alsterstreek
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Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC) Posts: 9,277
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Well...the station is not curved. It´s just only platform. I´m not really sure how much curved platforms are but they are not too narrow curved. I recommended platforms curved at least same radii like R5 and higher. Use flextrack. It looks more realistic with higher curved platforms. |
H0 DCC = Digital Command Control
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 1 user liked this useful post by Goofy
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Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 15,870 Location: Gibraltar, Europe
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In general, in model form, curved platforms look best when used with short trains of four or six wheel coaches.
Bogie coaches, even when shortened in the model, tend to look odd when standing at a curved platform, and can even foul the edges of the platform unless the gap is ridiculously large. |
Ray
Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.
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 4 users liked this useful post by RayF
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Joined: 27/07/2009(UTC) Posts: 5,862 Location: Leesburg,VA.USA
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Originally Posted by: Alsterstreek  I really like that second layout down, AK. A slight curve and still great for close coupler uncoupling. Looking forward to seeing your plans, Matthew. Mind the gap! Cheers, Peter.
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 2 users liked this useful post by petestra
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Joined: 15/10/2006(UTC) Posts: 2,319 Location: Washington, Pacific Northwest
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Bringing this back to life briefly to answer the initial question: is curved stations prototypical? Absolutely. An fine case of "you build it how you need it to fit" is still visible in the main station of Ludwigshafen, Germany (yes the town where the BASF HQ is located) It even has a highway bridge passing over its wye shape: Google Maps view Edited by user 20 May 2019 21:46:44(UTC)
| Reason: added photo |
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 2 users liked this useful post by Minok
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Joined: 01/06/2016(UTC) Posts: 2,465
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 1 user liked this useful post by TEEWolf
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Joined: 30/08/2016(UTC) Posts: 636 Location: Brussels
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I suppose the mainline station at York is one of the finest examples of a station on a curve. |
I heard that lonesome whistle blow. Hank Williams |
 1 user liked this useful post by Jabez
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Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,563 Location: Paris, France
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Hi I believe there is no question rail stations in curves are very prototypical and it adds a lot of charm in the landscape. Only large radius curves should be used and yes for coupling / uncoupling in model trains, a straight line works much better. In fact if you idea is to operate coupling decoupling I strongly suggest a straight line station. Coupling in curves simply does not work. Even in straight lines I had to modify the Marklin close couplers to avoid the situation where the 2 buckes hit each other and raise so that both buckles land on the pre-decoupling "S"-shaped piece so that the coupling is not done. Here is a little video on my work with coupling and uncoupling (automatically): Cheers Jean |
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 3 users liked this useful post by JohnjeanB
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Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 15,443 Location: DE-NW
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Originally Posted by: TEEWolf  Even Märklin demonstrate in its layouts curved stations. This is the prototype forum and links to fictitious Märklin layouts are off-topic IMHO. Märklin use straight tracks on the platform with a curve in the middle - this looks odd and unprototypical. For a prototypical look on the layout you will need flextrack, so C track is rather out of the game, unless you try R9 curves as a compromise. But that's a discussion that does not belong here. |
Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS  |
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Joined: 15/10/2006(UTC) Posts: 2,319 Location: Washington, Pacific Northwest
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Originally Posted by: H0  For a prototypical look on the layout you will need flextrack, so C track is rather out of the game, unless you try R9 curves as a compromise.
I don't agree with that view - having curved platforms is prototypical, as evidenced by the many examples given; so that is settled. Now how one implements a curved platform on a model rail layout, is dependent on the style and design choices and space of of the model railroader. There isn't anything fundamentally more or less wrong, in my view, from using a very gentle K-flex-track run, vs using an R2 C-Track run. You work with the materials and space you choose or have available. All model railroads are not prototypical by definition, its just a matter of what compromises a builder wants to make for themselves. |
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 6 users liked this useful post by Minok
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Joined: 26/03/2019(UTC) Posts: 754 Location: Florida Classic but Successful Swampland City
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Jimmy T Analogue; M-track; KLVM; DDR; Primex; Sarrasani Zirkuswelt There is a Prototype For Everything |
 3 users liked this useful post by Jimmy Thompson
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Joined: 21/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,485 Location: Hrvatska
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Pula, Croatia 
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 2 users liked this useful post by 1borna
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Joined: 01/06/2016(UTC) Posts: 2,465
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Originally Posted by: H0  Originally Posted by: TEEWolf  Even Märklin demonstrate in its layouts curved stations. This is the prototype forum and links to fictitious Märklin layouts are off-topic IMHO. Märklin use straight tracks on the platform with a curve in the middle - this looks odd and unprototypical. For a prototypical look on the layout you will need flextrack, so C track is rather out of the game, unless you try R9 curves as a compromise. But that's a discussion that does not belong here.
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