Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Trains Driven by Actual Steam Engines!

2048 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2016
  • 554 posts
Model Trains Driven by Actual Steam Engines!
Posted by Shock Control on Thursday, January 14, 2021 2:59 PM

This may be old news to the regulars around here, but I just recently stumbled upon this on the InterTubes.

I wonder if anyone makes HO steam-powered engines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M89MIJiWljo

 

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • 189 posts
Posted by Deane Johnson on Thursday, January 14, 2021 3:16 PM

Looks like it might take a lot of attention to keep one of those running.  It looks like the smoke comes out of the wrong place.  That G scale sure was running nice and smooth.

I wonder if those engines are commercially available, or if the fellow built it himself.  He may have said on the video, I don't hear all that well any more so I mainly look at pictures and catch a few words when they talk fast like that.  Or, I hear slow, one or the other.

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • From: Sacramento, California
  • 98 posts
Posted by L. Zhou on Thursday, January 14, 2021 3:18 PM

I looked around and some Chinese company makes live steam HO scale locomotives and they are selling it online around $400 each, however it seems it is sold out everywhere. They look pretty nice, the tender has a kadee clone attached on the back.

I personally won't purchase one because of the potential for mess, but maybe other folks might. If I had one I would just set it up outside and watch it run around and around. 

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." -Lin Yutang

-

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, January 14, 2021 3:31 PM

When Ulrich was with us, he use to post lots of videos on whats going in Europe with live steam models.  

Non were HO, which I would think would be difficult.

Mike.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,228 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, January 14, 2021 3:50 PM

 

When I was more active in G scale I recall the name Aster Models in the realm of live steam.

 

The general trend has been a decline in large-scale outdoor railroads. I'm sure their business has had to cope with this.

 

https://www.sunsetvalleyrailroad.com/aster-accucraft.html

 

Regards, Ed

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,326 posts
Posted by Overmod on Thursday, January 14, 2021 4:23 PM

Have y'all forgotten the Hornby live-steam A4 model?  The Plymouth Superbird of OO? The OO Live Steam Club says over 10,000 of them were made...

Or Werner Jeggli?

  • Member since
    October 2020
  • 3,489 posts
Posted by NorthBrit on Thursday, January 14, 2021 5:38 PM

A few different Hornby  models were made.   A Dwight D Eisenhower is for sale on EBay for £350.

 

David

To the world you are someone.    To someone you are the world

I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, January 14, 2021 5:42 PM

I watched these videos quite a while ago.  I'm pretty sure it was an off the shelf steamer

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-biggest-little-railway-in-the-world/episode-guide/

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,773 posts
Posted by wjstix on Friday, January 15, 2021 2:12 PM

Live steam model railroad engines pulling trains have been around a long time, predating the introduction of electric trains.

Stix
DrW
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Lubbock, TX
  • 365 posts
Posted by DrW on Friday, January 15, 2021 4:28 PM

It would be more impressive to have an HO diesel locomotive with a real diesel engine...     

JW

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • From: Kokomo, Indiana
  • 1,463 posts
Posted by emdmike on Saturday, January 16, 2021 1:28 AM

Lutz Hischler in Germany did a few small alcohol fired HO locos, as did a couple companies.  Then you had Hornby's OO models(All UK prototypes).  Most live steam is done in O and 1/G scale.    Here is my gauge one Aster Southern Schools class(UK railway).  This was their first model they made back in 1975, around 3000 or so were made.  Later runs were much smaller with 300ish being common for many years then 100 when it came to the Challenger and Allegheny.   Beautiful models, a joy to build from a kit and lots of fun to operate.   Mike the Aspie

Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,473 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Saturday, January 16, 2021 7:52 AM

In the 50s MR had an article about a guy who made steam engines that ran on CO2. The tender held pieces of dry ice and the vapors powered the engine. A motor operated the control valve. It was done on HO.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!