Marklin articulates the frame, similar to what is done on the real decapods in Germany, but just to a greater extent. With spur gearing connecting all the drive wheels, the side rods are just along for the ride. I wish I still had the pics of how a real decapod in Germany has its "give/flex" points. It was very interesting.
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
I think the 'doubters' were thinking of a US 2-10-0, like Bachmann's, which probably wouldn't take the curves on your layout. Since your original post talked about some US equipment, it wasn't clear you meant a German 2-10-0 designed to take super-sharp curves.
That is correct, most EU layouts are smaller due to most homes or appartments being smaller than what is more typical here in the USA. Those curves are more like 15" radius as the layout itself is 4x8 in overall size but narrowed in middle to allow access to the shelves where I keep my G/1 gauge stuff. The magnetic crane is operational and can be used to load/unload cars. I will start looking for good second hand buildings once train shows return. I am hunting a custom painter to repaint those F units into Monon passenger colors. Mike
I guess I didn't get involved in the original discussion where there were doubters, or I have forgotten, but I'm not surprised here. I have always understood that the Marklin/Trix items were designed for the tighter typical radius found in EU layouts. In fact, the Trix Big Boy has/had undersized drivers precisely so that the two engines could negotiate tight curves of the 18" radius kind.
For those that doubted I could run decapods around my new little Marklin layout due to the tight curves, here is a video of my Br44 doing just that. It only has the early delta decoder, so the speed steps are very crude and there is no back EMF to stabilize speed. I will be able to smoothly go round the curves and better scale speeds once I upgrade it. Second video is of my diecast F units running, they have been upgraded from analog control to a 5 pole DCM motor and Marklin decoder.