Steam loco

bellybomber3

bellybomber3

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Dec 30, 2005
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I have read several times that steam locos can be hard to run on tight radius turns is there a type that is better for running on 18" turns? What is the popular brands that I should look at? I have dcc and plan to buy a steam loco that has sound.
Thanks,
Tom
 
Any shorter wheelbase loco will be better at tighter turns. That means that x-4-x or x-6-x are generally better than (for example) x-8-x or x-10-x or even x-6-6-x. Older steamers used to be made with "blind" drivers - that is the middle set (or two) of driving wheels had no flanges so the wheels were free to ride out over the rails in the tighest turns.

I have a Proto2000 0-6-0 that I have equipped with a Soundtraxx DSD-LL080LC decoder. This is the "plug n play" decoder that is designed for the Proto2000 0-8-0 switcher, but it will work with the smaller engine too. Sounds great! :D

I also have a Bachman Spectrum 4-6-0 (no sound yet) that works well on 18" radius.

Remember too that long rolling stock, like heavyweight passenger cars, may have some problems and/or appearance issues on 18" radius.

Andrew
 
You could put locomotives as larger as a 4-6-6-4 Challenger ( thats my expierience) on 18" curves, but it probably won't look right if you stare at a picture of the real thing long enough. You can afford to go a little bigger i think then an 0-6-0, but don't go over board. stick to Hudson type (4-6-4) locomotives or smaller. avoid locomotives with lots of solid frame drivers.
 
steam locos

Hello,
Any six-coupled loco should work on 18" r, including six-coupled articulateds.
 
The smaller 2-8-0s generally do fine on 18" radius curves. Most 2-8-2s will handle it, but the overhang is beginning to be a bit much. That's where I would draw the line.

yours in steaming
 
The problem is not limited to steam locomotives, I know that I have had similar problems with diesels; particularly those with six wheel trucks. If you are running scale trains with rp25 wheels, then I would stay away from engines larger than a pacific (4-6-2). However, if you are not running scale then look at any AHM or Rivarossi engines. I have successfully run a 4-6-6-4 AHM with large wheel flanges on 18" uneven track and it didn't even challenge the 14 wheel centipede tender. Also some early Bachman 4-8-4s can run on it. There certainly are quite a few Bowser locomotive with blind center drivers that can negotiate 18" radius as well.

-Ed
 
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