Trains.com

Is LGB Being Dumped? & Big Drivers &....

844 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Florissant, Missouri
  • 493 posts
Is LGB Being Dumped? & Big Drivers &....
Posted by hoofe116 on Monday, August 13, 2007 10:08 PM

Is it me, or are those who own LGB stuff dumping it on Evil Bay? Seems to be a heckuva lot of it out there the past few weeks. Parts, too.

Also, to save postage, I'll ask, who sells large drivers? (Driving wheels)? I'm talking in the range of 3.X inches dia. The reason is, I saw a pix of a really really old English 6-2-0 on the Loco Locomotive site that'd be awesome to model. Got two 9' drivers. But as it so happens, I can't find even normal-sized ones. Not that I need any, presently, FWIW.

Which of us was suffering from a broken Aristo(?) drive gear? (My memory--I shouldn't post at this hour). I found three sites today that deal in 'hobby gears', both metal and polymer types. They're aimed at the robot builders. I don't know about the different torque/load factors, but I know a good way of finding out. If anyone's interested, just Google in 'hobby gears' and look for robotics. Or email me, I have 'em bookmarked. Also some very interesting looking sound, control and light modules for a good deal less than what I've seen priced in RR hobbyshops. Miniature chain and sprockets....

G'night.

Les

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Peak District UK
  • 809 posts
Posted by cabbage on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 1:08 AM
Well....

Speaking as someone who has built all but one of his locos from scratch, perhaps you had better consult the home page icon and look at the section marked, "Kitchen Sink Engineering".

The locomotive you are reffering to is a Crampton for the Camden and Amboy Railway and is american in manufacture, (note the bar frame construction), rather than the UK style plate frame method. As to sourcing big drivers, your best bet is a small engineering establishment. I will need large wheels making for one of the locos that I am planning on building for my new layout -it had 6 feet 6 inch high drivers.

This is unusual in an electric powered locomotive...

regards

ralph

The Home of Articulated Ugliness

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Florissant, Missouri
  • 493 posts
Posted by hoofe116 on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 4:51 PM

Cabbage:

I've mis-stated the locomotive entirely: what I had in my head was the 4-2-4 Pearson of the Bristol & Exeter RR as shown on 'L.L.' under 'In Pursuit of Velocities'. Apologies; that's what I get for posting so late at night. It has 9' drivers.

The 'Hurricane' was built for the Great Western RR in the US ca 1838 (and, as an aside, another interesting one to build) it had a pair of 10 foot drivers. It is in the same section as the Pearson.

I'm unaware of the one which you mention, is it on that website also? Under which heading?

While on the subject of immense diameter drivers, somewhere long ago I read (or think I did) that about 80" was found to be the maximum for driver diameters, but no reason was given. I wonder if it could have to do with vertical counterbalance forces, which tend to lift the engine and pound the track a half-rev later?

I'm a retired XP tool and die maker. Thus, I can make my own, but since I have no mill, just a lathe, doing so would be relatively formidable, given my aversion of late to hard work. Filing all those axles out is daunting to contemplate, let alone do.

If you mean going to the Museum of Retrotech's homepage, there is no 'kitchen sink area' mentioned. If you mean this website, I'll go take a look, still not so familiar with it.

57 deg N Lat? That's a tad toward the Cold Zone, isn't it?

Les 

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Snoqualmie Valley
  • 515 posts
Posted by S&G Rute of the Silver River on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 9:41 PM
Ya, I've noticed it. Too bad people still seem to think that there stuf is made from 24k gold and expects to be paid as much. I have some old O scale Lionel drivers (early 60's I beleave) that are 2 1/2x dia.Not all are in the best condition but I'd sell em to ya. Right me an email, and yes the "rules" say no advertising.
"I'm as alive and awake as the dead without it" Patrick, Snoqualmie WA. Member of North West Railway Museum Caffinallics Anomus (Me)
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Peak District UK
  • 809 posts
Posted by cabbage on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 9:46 AM
The Crampton is here:

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/chimney/chimney.htm

it is at the bottom of the page.

The section "Kitchen Sink Engineering" is on my home page here:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sheila.capella/cabbage/welcome.html

The reason why drivers have a limit on size has to do with Chladni plate resonance -the larger the wheel the lower the frequency it can resonate at.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=5127322

This causes cracks....

regards

ralph

The Home of Articulated Ugliness

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Florissant, Missouri
  • 493 posts
Posted by hoofe116 on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:28 PM

S&G:

Thanks for the offer, but they ain't spoked, nor big enough, so they won't help me.

I talked the problem over with Friend Wife, who knows how to cast brass. She says if push comes to shove, we'll cast a few up. We're both of us past the time o' life to have to move fast and work hard, but I've still got my forge.

Now, my granddaughter, whoa, she's 13, and she can absolutely almost fly! I got a picture of her jumping a log at high speed.

Les

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Florissant, Missouri
  • 493 posts
Posted by hoofe116 on Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:47 PM

Cabbage:

I went to your homepage, and at once added it to my favorites list. All I can say is, "Impressive!" I just skimmed it (the kitchen sink part), but will study it closely tomorrow. It's past my bedtime here.

Also, I took a look at the Crampton. Yup, them're big 'uns, yes they are!

I didn't look at the wheel site yet, for reason stated above, will do so tomorrow.

Cheers!

Les

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy