Turntable Length , or how long is a 2-8-2 in HO ??

[ereimer]

i'm still in the planning/aquisition stage and i recently bought an SS Ltd turntable kit . it can be built as either 70' or 90' and i'm trying to decide which i need . current plans are to run small steam and i have an HO Bachmann spectrum 4-6-0 and the 3 truck shay (both much less than 70') , but i've always really liked the look of Mikado's and i'm sure that i'll end up buying one sooner or later even though my prototype road didn't have any.

so what i need to know is the length of an HO 2-8-2 , specifically the Bachmann spectrum , Athearn genesis and the BLI . also any comments you'd like to make on the quality of the models would be appreciated

thanks
ernie

[Anonymous]

I think that if you have room go for the bigger size.

[Pennsy58]

If you go with the longer length you will be happy. If you don't sooner or later you will wish you built the 90'.

[ereimer]

space is pretty tight . the turntable , engine house , service track with water tower and sand house , a couple of yard tracks , a passing siding , and a few industries have to fit in a 2' x 8' space . the extra 20' translates to 2.75" which is pretty signifigant

[selector]

Your call, but I would agree with your answers so far. Almost no modeler is content with what he/she has very long, and will want to upgrade to more powerful and capable locomotives; usually that means longer and heavier ones.

Can you fiddle with your service track, and maybe integrate it with the approach to the table (if that'll save some space). Can you shift your roundhouse/engine house around, or downsize it with respect to the number of stalls?

Why only 2'X8'? Can you negotiate for even another 3" of shelf width? Perhaps if you post a layout diagram, some of the more creative contributors here (especially those whose space is at a premium, like yours) will get you steered right.

[TBat55]

You can plan for a large TT but put in a small TT. You'll just have a lot of frogs around the perimeter where the rails cross.

[ereimer]

Crandell , my track plan is very far from final yet , as i have to decide what specific buildings i'll be using to determine their space requirements . also i'm using paper and pencil for the design so far because all the programs i've tried seemed to have rather steep learning curves (that , or i don't go uphill very well [:D] )

the engine house will be a 2 stall rather than a multi stall roundhouse , so i really can't shrink that much . i do like the idea of combining the service and approach tracks , that will gain me some room

i picked 2 x 8 for 2 reasons . it fits in the space i have , and extruded foam comes in 2 x 8 sheets . adding 3" to the shelf is certainly possible , and gives a nice increase in space , great idea !

TBat55 , your suggestion sounds like custom handlaid track , and i'm not going there !

thanks for the suggestions so far , but i'm still hoping someone will measure their 2-8-2 locos , please

[Sperandeo]

Ernie,

The 2-8-2 models you're asking about are USRA light and heavy types. With their "standard" or original tenders, both engines are around 80 scale feet long, or say 85 to allow for longer-than-scale engine-tender couplings. So a 70-foot turntable will be too short, but a 90-footer will handle them with a little room to spare.

Good luck,

Andy

[ereimer]

thanks Andy !

[wow] an answer to my question from Andy Sperandeo , to a model railroader that's like getting a reply to a fan letter sent to a hollywood star [bow]

[Sperandeo]

Aw shucks, Ernie. I'm just one model railroader trying to help out another one. And you're certainly welcome. - Andy

[Anonymous]

I asked for dimensions in locomotive reviews a while back, and got an affirmative response from Jim Hediger. I notice in the Proto 2000 2-8-8-2 review that it was mentioned it will fit a 100 foot (14") turntable. While I'd hope to see actual loco and tender length and wheelbase, it's a step in the right direction and should be encouraged. Wouldn't it be nice if steamengines.com had a model loco specs chart with that info!